Dwell time indication method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

The apparatus and method of the invention relate to data entry in ideographic languages, including Chinese, Japanese and Korean, and to interactive displays and interactive display methods for use by persons temporarily or permanently lacking normal motor capabilities. In a preferred embodiment, each option of a menu is associated respectively with a selectable region (3606), (3610), etc. displayed adjacent an edge of a display (2112), forming a perimeter menu and leaving a region (3680) in the center of the perimeter menu for the output of an application program. Selectable regions may be on the display, outside the display, or both. A menu option may be selected by clicking on the associated selectable region, by dwelling on it for a selection threshold period or by a cursor path toward the selectable region, or by a combination thereof. Remaining dwell time required to select a selectable region is preferably indicated by the brightness of the selectable region. Submenus of a perimeter menu may also be perimeter menus and the location of a submenu option may be foretold by the appearance of its parent menu option. Menu options may be ideographs sharing a sound, a structure or another characteristic. Ideographs, which may be homophones of one another, may be associated with colored indicating regions and selection of an ideograph may be made by speaking the name of the associated color.

This is a U.S. National Stage application of International Application Number PCT/US95/03591 filed Mar, 27, 1995 entitled "Method of and Apparatus for Data Entry" which designated the United States.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to interactive display terminals and interactive display methods, and more particularly to interactive display terminals and interactive display methods for use by persons temporarily or permanently lacking normal motor capabilities. It also relates to systems and methods for the assessment of the motor capabilities of persons lacking normal motor capabilities. It further relates to interactive display terminals and interactive display methods for use in speech synthesis for persons having impaired speech. It also relates to systems and methods for the control of devices, including appliances, by persons lacking normal motor capabilities. It further relates to interactive display terminals and interactive display methods for selecting one menu option from a menu. It further relates to systems and methods utilizing sound recognition for selecting a menu option from a menu. It further relates to data and order entry systems including, and data and order entry methods utilizing, an interactive display terminal. It also relates to interactive display terminals and interactive display methods for displaying and selecting ideographic characters, such as are used in the Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages. It also relates to interactive display terminals and interactive display methods for producing an indication of progress toward and/or away from selection of a menu option.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the World Intellectual Property Organization patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND ART

Many persons suffer from various neurogenic muscular disorders, such as Cerebral Palsy ("CP"), Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Muscular Dystrophy, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Multiple Sclerosis. These conditions can result in a reduced ability to voluntarily control or prevent the movement of parts of the body, including the head, limbs and digits, muscle stiffness, weakness, limited range of motion, abnormal posture, involuntary muscle tremors involuntary muscle activity causing involuntary motion, impaired ability to voluntarily stop motion, impaired ability to coordinate muscle activity, and/or impaired ability to sense the position of a part of the body. Any one of these symptoms may impair an affected individual's fine motor control. Moreover, while some individuals affected by a neuromuscular disorder may be able to exercise fine motor control with enormous effort, the struggle to do so often fatigues the individual, limiting the period of time the individual is capable or comfortable performing the fine motor control task.

Neuromuscular disorders are often systemic in effect, impairing an individual's ability to operate prosthetic devices, such as a wheelchair, and to perform the activities of daily life, such as speaking, walking and operating household appliances. Speech is frequently affected since the mechanics of producing speech require coordination of many muscle groups--the muscles of the diaphragm which push air over the vocal cords, the muscles of the larynx, jaws, tongue and lips. The inability to use or coordinate these muscle groups may result in impaired speech. Depending upon the degree of impairment, speech may be totally absent, present but impaired to the point of unintelligibility, or intelligible on the whole but with occasional unintelligible words. The ability to walk is often affected since walking requires coordination and voluntary control of many muscle groups. Furthermore, impaired fine motor control may prevent or impede an individuals from effectively operating household appliances or computer input devices.

Devices are available which produce speech, control appliances and facilitate computer access for some persons having neuromuscular disorders ("NMD operators"). Devices which produce speech for individuals whose own speech is impaired, called Augmentative and Alternative Communication ("AAC") devices, allow the operator to select words or phrases by spelling the words, by specifying an abbreviation for the phrase or by selecting a sequence of symbols, and then speak the selected words or phrases using an electronic speech synthesizer. However, due to the systemic nature of neuromuscular disorders, NMD operators are often unable to efficiently use a standard keyboard and mouse. For example, an NMD operator who is unable to stop the movement of a limb with precision, when attempting to use a keyboard or mouse, may move his arm toward the target key or move the cursor toward the target object on the display but overshoot the target. If he has involuntary tremors and cannot hold a limb still, then, when attempting to use a keyboard, he may hit keys adjacent to his target key. If he has involuntary motion moving left to right, then, when attempting to use a keyboard, he may have difficulty accessing an intended key on the right side of the keyboard.

The benefits of interfacing an NMD operator to a general purpose computer so that he may control the computer and devices attached to it ("computer access") are both numerous, because many of the problems faced by the disabled are susceptible to a computer-driven solution, and profound, because of the psychological deprivation occasioned by a severe physical disability. The benefits potentially obtained through computer access for individuals affected by neuromuscular disorders include:

a. Speech synthesis. A computer connected to a speech synthesizer enables an NMD operator with impaired speech to direct the computer to speak for him.

b. Device control. A user who is physically unable to operate a household appliance, for example, a television, video cassette recorder, compact disc player, radio, alarm clock, telephone, light, thermostat, dimmer or power switch, may be able to control the appliance via a computer equipped with an interface he can control.

c. Access to general purpose computer applications. NMD operators may make use of the same general purpose computer application programs ("applications") as able-bodied users, including applications for word processing, database, computer-aided instruction, access to literature accessible via computer, spreadsheet, time management and computer utilities.

d. Enhanced self-esteem and peer approval. Adolescents with CP are obviously different from their peers. They are often surrounded by non-normative assistive technology, e.g. wheelchair or walker, special school bus equipped with a chair lift, stair lift, standing aid, AAC device, feeding apparatus, bath seat, toiletting apparatus, etc. In addition, they may drool, lacking the ability to coordinate lip closure with swallowing. Nonetheless they are adolescents and need peer approval to support them in their maturation from dependent children to independent adults. Today, demonstrated facility with a computer is an emblem of intelligence among adolescents, so computer use provides adolescents the opportunity to prove their intelligence and thus potentially rewards NMD operators with both self-esteem and peer approval.

e. Privacy. Some severely disabled school-aged children require nearly constant physical assistance to transfer them to and from bed, to feed them, help them with toiletting and personal hygiene, etc. Because they are constantly attended, all their mistakes in class or when doing homework are known to their attendant, often a family member. They do not have the opportunity to make mistakes in private. Computer use, if it can be done without assistance, affords the NMD operator the opportunity to avoid the embarrassment of showing their failings to their attendant.

f. Expanded personal interaction. Some severely disabled individuals, e.g. quadriplegics, are essentially incarcerated by their disability. They interact with their family or their caretakers, depending upon whether they live at home or in an institution. Their circle of friends is often very small. Using a computer and a modem, they can expand their circle of friends to include the tens of thousands of people who periodically connect to worldwide electronic networks to trade information on topics of mutual interest. Moreover, the interaction via present computer networks is mostly textual; there is no voice or visual interaction between users. Since messages are customarily composed and read off-line to minimize connect time charges, no one even knows how long it took the sender to enter the text. Electronic networks thus afford the disabled user an opportunity to relate to others on an equal footing, not as a disabled person to his able-bodied peers, something many NMD operators dearly want to do but were never able to.

NMD operators vary widely in their motor capabilities. Even individuals having the same medical diagnosis may require completely different technologies for computer access. Many NMD operators are able to use an oversize keyboard, a device having a pressure-sensitive surface divided into squares, each square associated with a letter of the alphabet. The squares may be sized to match the operator's abilities, but typically each square is two inches on either side. NMD operators who are unable to efficiently use an oversize keyboard may use another conventional computer access solution, called an "on-screen keyboard", which, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is a picture of keyboard drawn on a computer display (1101). The operator selects a letter by pointing to that letter's key image on the display with a pointing device ("pointer"), then indicating that he has reached his target either by operating a switch, a process called selection by click, or by maintaining the location indicated by the pointer ("dwelling") on the key image for a predetermined period of time (the "selection threshold"), a process called selection by dwell. Switch operation includes, but is not limited to, each of the following: opening the switch, closing the switch, opening the switch multiple times within a predetermined period, and closing the switch multiple times within a predetermined period. A program executing on the computer determines which letter the operator has selected and processes the letter or passes it to some other application program which processes the letter as if it came from a true keyboard.

Conventional pointing devices include a mouse, trackball, joystick (which may be integrated into a keyboard, e.g. TrackPoint II®), stylus and graphics tablet, lightpen, thumb wheel, touch screen, touch panel, head pointer, occulometer, intraoral pointer and eye tracker. They may be active, e.g. a lightpen that emits an infrared beam, or passive, e.g. an eye tracker that uses images of an individual's eyes to determine where his eyes are focusing. Conventional switches include a button on the mouse, a switch in the tip of the stylus actuated by pressure or the release of pressure, a switch mounted on the user's wheelchair operated by a turn of the head to or the switch below a keyboard key.

Dwell time may be continuous or discontinuous depending upon the operator's motor capabilities. In continuous dwelling, if the operator moves the cursor from one key image to another region of the display, the time accumulated on the key image is discarded so that if the operator returns to that key image he must dwell on it for the full selection threshold to select it. Discontinuous dwelling, by contrast, compensates for involuntary tremors which pull the operator off the desired key image. Accumulated dwell time on a key image is remembered, so that on return to a key image, the operator need only dwell for a period equal to the difference between the selection threshold and the previously accumulated dwell time for that key image. Accumulated dwell time is reset to zero for all key images following the selection of any one key image. Conventional on-screen keyboards do not indicate to the operator the dwell time associated with any key image.

There may be a single selection threshold period for all key images or each key image may be associated with its own selection threshold period. In the latter case, keys associated with shorter selection threshold periods are easier to select than keys associated with longer selection threshold periods.

As was mentioned earlier, computer access permits an NMD operator to run a variety of applications. One such application is speech synthesis. In a computer-based speech synthesis system, a computer system displaying an on-screen keyboard is connected to a speech synthesizer. The operator spells the desired word or words using the on-screen keyboard. These are then spoken by the speech synthesizer. Another application of the on-screen keyboard is word processing. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a combined display of an on-screen keyboard and a word processing application program. The on-screen keyboard (0201) is shown on the lower portion of a display connected to a computer system (not shown) which also executes the word processing application program whose output (0203) appears on the upper portion of the display. Letters selected by the operator are input to the word processing application program.

Due to impaired fine motor control, many NMD operators have difficulty selecting a key image by click or by dwell and this difficulty increases as the size of the key image decreases. FIG. 1 shows an on-screen keyboard containing 81 total keys including 26 alphabetic keys, 10 numeric keys, 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys and 29 special purpose keys. Drawing this many key images on a display restricts the size of each key image making each very difficult for many NMD operators to select.

When a display is shared between application program output (0203) and an on-screen keyboard (0201), as is the display shown in FIG. 2, the size of each key image must be reduced from its size in FIG. 1 to allow space for the application program output. Thus, as more display space is allotted to application program output, the key images become more difficult for an NMD operator to select.

Many NMD operators have difficulty using the conventional dwell selectable on-screen keyboard because they cannot maintain a steady pointer position. The body member with which they control the pointer may move slightly ("drift") when they want it to remain still. One approach to this problem is a variation of the on-screen keyboard depicted in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 and called a quaternary on-screen keyboard ("quaternary keyboard"). The quaternary keyboard provides for larger key images. The alphabet is divided into four groups of letters, each displayed in one of the four quadrants (1302), (1304), (1306) and (1308) of the display, as shown in FIG. 3. The operator selects one of the four groups by, for example, pointing to and dwelling on one quadrant of the display. The selected group is then exploded into four subgroups, each displayed in one quadrant of the display, as shown in FIG. 4. Once more the operator selects one of the four. The selected group is exploded into four letters and each letter displayed in one quadrant of the display, as shown in FIG. 5. The operator again selects one of the four. This letter is then input to an application program (not shown).

The quaternary keyboard illustrates the use of a menu hierarchy in computer access. Each of the four groups of letters (1302), (1304), (1306) and (1308) is a menu option. Each of these menu options is itself a menu which includes other menu options. A menu hierarchy exists if at least one of a menu's menu options is itself a menu. Hereinafter, a menu accessed from another menu may be called a submenu, and the options of the submenu may be called submenu options. If a menu hierarchy is narrow and deep, many selections are required to make the desired choice. If a menu hierarchy is broad and shallow, each layer is composed of many menu options.

The quaternary keyboard greatly expands the size of a single key image and thus accommodates certain NMD operators with drift or involuntary tremors. The cost of this adjustment is high.

Instead of selecting a letter with one pointing motion and dwelling for one selection threshold, the quaternary keyboard requires three pointing motions and dwelling for three selection thresholds. Thus the operator's productivity is dramatically reduced from the standard on-screen keyboard depicted in FIG. 1.

The computer access advantage gained from the quaternary keyboard is greatest when the quaternary keyboard occupies the entire display. In this configuration the size of each of the four active display regions is maximized, making them easier to hit and dwell on for the operator. However, this configuration allows no room on the display for the output of the application program being run by the operator, the reason he is sitting at the computer in the first place. This does not prevent the on-screen keyboard from passing letters to the application program since an application program need not be visible to be active, but it does prevent the operator from seeing what the application program has to show him. The more of the application program output that is displayed, the smaller the on-screen keyboard, the smaller each active region of the on-screen keyboard and the more difficult access becomes. FIG. 6 illustrates a display combining a quaternary keyboard and output from two application programs.

Another conventional structure for selecting of a menu option from a menu is a pie menu A pie menu is an opaque region on a display divided into selectable slices, each slice associated with a menu option. The pie menu suffers some of the drawbacks discussed above, particularly that, while displayed the pie menu occupies more space than a linear menu and obscures much of the output of the operator's application program. For illustrations and a discussion of pie menus, see Callahan, Jack et. al., "An Empirical Comparison of Pie vs. Linear Menus", Computer Science Technical Report Series, TR-1919, University of Maryland, September 1987.

NMD operators who cannot effectively use a conventional keyboard or a pointing device may use a computer access method called "joystick patterns". FIG. 7 depicts a conventional joystick pattern device. The device (1602) is connected to a joystick and to a computer. The operator pushes the joystick to the top, bottom, left, right, top left corner, top right corner, lower left corner or lower right corner, closing one of eight switch contacts within the joystick housing. That switch position is then indicated on the display (1604). A sequence of consecutive of switch closures encodes a letter or other programmed output that the device (1602) displays on an LCD display (1606) and sends to the connected computer, simulating keyboard input.

The conventional joystick pattern device is ill-suited for many NMD operators. The involuntary tremors common some neuromuscular disorders may result in unintended switch closures. In addition, the device does not provide an indication that the operator is moving a body member in an unintended direction until switch closure occurs. For example, an operator with CP who intends to move the joystick the right but actually moves it to the upper right receives no indication from the device, prior to switch closure, that he's not on target. Moreover, the device requires that the operator memorize the encoding of each letter or other output since there's no indication on the display (1606) which sequence encodes which letter. Further, the device provides no support for head pointing, although the head is often the best controlled part of an NMD operator's body.

NMD operators who cannot effectively use either a conventional keyboard or a pointing device but can reliably actuate a switch may use a computer access method called "scanning", which is subdivided by cursor control technique into three types of scanning: automatic, directed and step. In automatic scanning all the operators' options, for example, the letters of the alphabet, appear on either a static or dynamic display (depending upon the implementation), organized in rows and columns. At the scanning interval, usually about one second, a cursor moves from one row to the next. When the cursor indicates the row containing the letter the operator wants, he closes a switch. The machine now moves the cursor from one letter to the next within the selected row until the operator closes the switch again. The operator has now selected one letter. In directed scanning, like automatic scanning, the cursor moves at the frequency determined by the scanning interval, however, it moves only when the switch is closed. To select an option, such as a row or a letter in a row, the operator opens the switch while the cursor indicates the desired option. In step scanning, the cursor moves with each switch activation.

As one can well imagine, writing a sentence via any of these scanning techniques is an extremely slow process, since selecting a single letter may take many seconds.

Problems of computer access cascade and affect the quality of verbal interactions between AAC device operators ("AAC operators") and others. People speak much faster than they type. Not surprisingly, operators who speak with AAC devices, particularly NMD operators whose motor deficits impair their ability to use a keyboard, lag substantially in their conversations. The slow pace of an AAC operator's word production disrupts normal verbal interaction. Speaking persons. accustomed or not to the AAC operator's slow rate, often lose patience in conversations with AAC operators. They may prematurely terminate the conversation, read the AAC device display in an attempt to guess at the AAC operator's intended utterance and so accelerate the interaction, lead the AAC operator, ask predominantly yes/no questions, change the topic of conversation with little input from the AAC operator and otherwise dominate the interaction. The AAC operator often has difficulty participating as an equal partner in the conversation. He may be unable to change the topic, interject a humorous comment in a timely fashion or respond to a question before the speaking person changes the topic. Slow AAC operators may be perceived as mentally slow. Thus the quality of verbal interactions where one party uses an AAC device to speak depends significantly upon the AAC operator's rate of word production.

Increasing an operator's letter or menu option selection rate proportionately increases his word production rate and increases the operator's productivity in data entry generally. Letter or menu option selection time includes the time the operator requires (a) to comprehend the menu options displayed, (b) to move the pointer to the desired menu option on the display, and in selection by dwell, (c) the selection threshold period, or, in selection by click, (c) the time required to operate the switch. Decreasing any one of these increases the operator's productivity, assuming all other steps in the selection process are unaffected.

Personal interactions are composed of more than speech alone. People in conversation gesture to one another, use facial expressions, change the object of their gaze and make non-speech utterances (e.g. "hmmm-mmmm") to bid for a turn to speak, to grant such a bid made by the other party, to request to continue speaking and to acknowledge, accept or dispute what has been said. Ideally, the production of speech from an AAC devices does not distract the AAC operator from the personal interaction and subject matter of the conversation. This is possible if the operator habituates the AAC device access technique and menu structure, producing speech without focusing on each step of the process, much as automobile drivers habituate mechanical tasks, such as changing gears and switching between foot pedals, and focus their attention on pedestrians or traffic lights while operating their vehicle.

Another consequence of personal interaction during conversation for an AAC device operator is that the operator needs a way to easily enable and disable the AAC device operator interface so that movement the operator makes during personal interaction, for example, nodding his head, is not interpreted by the AAC device.

As noted previously, neurogenic muscular disorders may impair the ability of an individual to sense the position of a body member. An NMD operator thus relies more than his able-bodied peer on the location of a cursor or similar automated indication of body member position. Conventional access methods which use a pointer do not provide additional feedback to the operator of the position of a body member.

Access methods which require the NMD operator to make the same movement for most selections, such as single switch access, mouth sticking (the use of a small rod held in the mouth and used to depress keys on a keyboard) and head sticking (the use of a rod mounted on the head and used to depress keys on a keyboard), may result in repetitive motion injury, particularly after years of use.

There are several aspects of the invention, each addressing one or more of the problems described above and/or one or more problems specifically addressed by that aspect of the invention. The objects, disclosure and description of each aspect is separately described below under one of the headings: (A) Perimeter Menu, (B) Confinement, (C) Dwell, (D) Path Directness, (E) Intersection, (F) Alignment, (G) Length Order, (H) Location Indication, (I) Sound Match, and (J) Ideographic Languages,. Where there is background art applicable to an aspect in addition to that described above, the additional background art is described below.

A & B. Perimeter Menu and Confinement

One object of the Perimeter Menu and Confinement aspects of the invention is to facilitate computer access by a disabled operator.

A further object of the Perimeter Menu and Confinement aspects of the invention is to facilitate menu selection by an operator having impaired ability to maintain a body member in a steady position.

Another object of the Perimeter Menu and Confinement aspects of the invention is to facilitate menu selection by an operator having impaired ability to stop motion.

Yet another object of the Perimeter Menu and Confinement aspects of the invention is to simultaneously display an application program window and a computer access menu which does not obstruct the application program window.

Another object of the Perimeter Menu and Confinement aspects of the invention is to allow an operator to enable and disable a menu.

A still further object of the Perimeter Menu and Confinement aspects of the invention is to synthesize speech for an operator having impaired speech and impaired fine motor control.

Still another object of the Perimeter Menu and Confinement aspects of the invention is to facilitate device control for a disabled operator.

Another object of the Perimeter Menu and Confinement aspects of the invention is to reduce the cognitive demand of speech synthesis for the disabled.

A still further object of the Perimeter Menu and Confinement aspects of the invention is to enlarge the effective area of a selectable region without concomitantly reducing the area available for information display.

Another object of the Perimeter Menu and Confinement aspects of the invention is to speed data entry.

Yet another object of the Perimeter Menu and Confinement aspects of the invention is to facilitate computer access for an operator having impaired ability to sense the position of a body member used for computer access.

C. Dwell

Conventional systems allowing selection by dwell do not provide an indication to the operator of either how much dwell time has been accumulated for any selectable region or how much more dwell time is required to select a selectable region. Consequently, an operator of a conventional system who is dwelling on a intended selectable region has no indication, other than his estimation from prior use of the system, that he has nearly made his selection and can plan his next movement to the next selectable region or that he has very nearly made his selection and can begin moving to the next selectable region. Furthermore, an operator of a conventional system who is dwelling on an unintended selectable region, has no indication, other than his estimation from prior use of the system, of how close he is to making an unintended selection and thus how important it is to act quickly. Conventional systems using discontinuous dwell give no indication of the accumulated dwell time associated with a selectable region either when the operator dwells on that region or when the operator ceases dwelling on that region. Some disabled users can dwell relatively easily on their intended targets for short periods of time, but have difficulty dwelling for long periods. If such an operator knows that only a little more dwell time is needed he may be able to satisfy the dwell time required for selection, without preparing himself to dwell for an extended period.

Conventional menu-driven data entry and order entry systems incorporating pointing at intended selections employ a two step selection procedure. In the first step the operator indicates, with a pointer, his intended selection. The system then provides feedback, for example, by highlighting the indicated selection, showing which selection the operator has indicated. In the second step, the operator selects the indicated selection, for example, by operating a switch. Thus, conventional data entry and order entry systems are ill-suited to circumstances where the operator cannot easily operate a switch while maintaining the pointer on the intended selection.

While the two step procedure is not complicated, many operators require some training to learn it, and, if they are infrequent users of the system, these operators may require refresher training. Simplifying the procedure further would lessen the need for initial and refresher training.

One object of the Dwell aspect of the invention is to facilitate the use of systems allowing selection by dwell.

Still another object of the Dwell aspect of the invention is to facilitate device control by the disabled.

A further object of the Dwell aspect of the invention is to increase the independence of the disabled.

Yet another object of the Dwell aspect of the invention is to facilitate the use of a data entry or order entry system by an intermittent operator.

Another object of the Dwell aspect of the invention is to facilitate ordering by someone seated in a vehicle.

D. Path Directness

The on-screen keyboard with dwell selectable key images is ill-suited for use by many NMD operators. Selection by dwell may fatigue NMD operators or may require greater fine motor control than they bring to this task. Operators with impaired ability to stop motion and those having involuntary tremors have difficulty maintaining the location indicated by a pointer on a key image for a period sufficient to distinguish intentional dwelling from unintentional dwelling. Consequently, some NMD operators who try to use on-screen keyboards often miss their target key images and/or accidentally select unintended key images. Following such an error, the operator must erase his erroneous selection by selecting the backspace or undo key. As the number of erroneous selections increases, the operator's productivity decreases markedly, since each error requires a correction in which there might be another error.

Conventional on-screen keyboards require the ability to select by dwell or by click and thus are limited to operators with these capabilities. Conventional on-screen keyboards do not utilize the relatively intact motor capabilities of some NMD operators to compensate for impaired ability to select by dwell or by click or to speed up the slow process of selecting by dwell. For example, while an NMD operator may overshoot a key image, his directional control may be relatively intact. Conventional on-screen keyboards do not exploit this capability.

The dominant computer operating system for graphic applications on general purpose computer systems today is the Windows® Operating System. Windows® assigns meaning to the cursor location. When the operator moves the cursor on top of a menu item and clicks, Windows® interprets the action as manifesting an intent to choose that menu item. The operator's path to that menu item, whether direct or circuitous, is irrelevant. Operators who can move toward a target accurately but cannot maintain the location indicated by a pointer on the target cannot effectively use standard Windows® applications through the conventional interface to these applications.

Often NMD operators cannot steady a pointer while operating a switch; the act of operating the switch triggers involuntary muscle activity pulling the cursor off target. For these operators, conventional selection by click is not practicable. Conventional selection by dwell also requires greater fine motor control than many NMD operators bring to this task. Operators with impaired ability to stop motion may overshoot their intended target. Operators whose voluntary muscle activity is accompanied by some involuntary muscle activity affecting their directional control often cannot point accurately. Operators with involuntary tremors often cannot maintain the location indicated by a pointer on a key image. Consequently, NMD operators who try to use on-screen keyboards often miss their target key images and accidentally select unintended key images. Following such an error, the operator must erase his erroneous selection by selecting the backspace or undo key. As the number of erroneous selections increases, the operator's productivity decreases markedly, since each error requires a correction in which there might be another error.

Measures of an individual's fine motor control assist a physician or therapist in evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment program, including assistive technology, and in gauging the severity of a disability. Such measures help the physician or therapist in determining what treatment course to pursue and whether the severity of a certain disability justifies the risk of a particular treatment option, such as neurosurgery.

One object of the Path Directness aspect of the invention is to facilitate selection of an option from a menu.

Another object of the Path Directness aspect of the invention is to indicate to an operator moving a cursor toward an option in a menu displayed by a computer system, which option the computer system believes the operator is moving toward.

Another object of the Path Directness aspect of the invention is to display a menu on a display so that a large contiguous area on the display is not obstructed by the menu.

Still another object of the Path Directness aspect of the invention is to make use, in computer access, of relatively unimpaired directional control in persons having impaired fine motor control.

A further object of the Path Directness aspect of the invention is to indicate to an operator moving a cursor toward a dwell-selectable option in a menu, a changed selection threshold of the dwell-selectable option.

Yet another object of the Path Directness aspect of the invention is to more efficiently select an option from a menu on a display.

Another object of the Path Directness aspect of the invention is to speed up selection of an option from a menu by an operator having impaired ability to operate a switch while the operator simultaneously keeps a cursor location within a region on a display.

Another object of the Path Directness aspect of the invention is to help an operator with a disability control a pointer.

Yet another object of the Path Directness aspect of the invention is to speed data entry by an individual with a disability.

A still further object of the Path Directness aspect of the invention is to facilitate artificial speech generation by a person having impaired speech due to a neurogenic muscular disorder.

Yet another object of the Path Directness aspect of the invention is to facilitate device control by a person having a neurogenic muscular disorder.

Another object of the Path Directness aspect of the invention is to measure an individual's ability to move one of the individual's body members in a direct path from a starting position to an ending position.

Yet another object of the Path Directness aspect of the invention is to facilitate computer access for an individual who cannot stop movement cleanly.

E. Intersection

One object of the Intersection aspect of the invention is to facilitate computer access by an operator having impaired ability to maintain a body member in a steady position.

Another object of the Intersection aspect of the invention is to facilitate the selection of a desired menu option by an operator having impaired fine motor control.

A further object of the Intersection aspect of the invention is to synthesize speech for an operator having impaired speech and impaired motor control.

Yet another object of the Intersection aspect of the invention is to use an operator's directional control in computer access.

A still further object of the Intersection aspect of the invention is, in selecting a menu option from a menu of dwell-selectable menu options, to compensate for an operator's impaired ability to maintain a body member in a steady position by using the operator's relatively intact motor capability.

F. Alignment

Conventional on-screen keyboards do not compensate for NMD operators' inability to stop motion. Suppose the operator has been fitted with a head pointing device so that his head motion moves the cursor and that he's using the quaternary keyboard shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Assume further that, as he attempts to point to the quadrant containing the "j" key image (1308) in FIG. 3, he is unable to stop on that quadrant and continues turning 20 more degrees to the left. There are two known ways of responding to this situation: (1) the cursor may continue to track the operator's motion and disappear from the display, leaving no indication to the operator of the location of the cursor and consequently causing some operator disorientation, or (2) the cursor may "stick", i.e. remain confined to the display, at, for example, point (1312). Conventional on-screen keyboards respond in this way. The operator's line of sight is now 20 degrees to the left of the cursor location. After the dwell period, the quadrant (1308) is selected and FIG. 4 is displayed. The cursor hasn't moved. It is now at point (1320). Assume that again the operator attempts to point to the quadrant containing the "j" key image (1324) in FIG. 4. As the operator turns his head to the right, the cursor immediately moves with him. Thus, the operator's line of sight remains 20 degrees to the left of the cursor location as the cursor moves to the right across the display. The operator must watch the cursor out of his right eye. The problem is aggravated if either the operator cannot cleanly stop or if he drifts as he dwells. Assume that while attempting to dwell on quadrant (1324) the operator drifts 25 degrees past the bottom of the screen. His line of sight is now 25 degrees below and 20 degrees to the left of the cursor. To correct this misalignment in the conventional quaternary keyboard, the operator must turn his head to the right, "stick" the cursor against the right edge of the display, and continue turning 20 degrees until he has the cursor in his line of sight. Then he must lift his head until he sticks the cursor against the top edge and continue lifting 25 degrees more. Alternatively, in this scenario, the operator could stick the cursor in the upper right corner of the display and simultaneously rotate his head up and to the right until he brought the cursor into his line of sight.

Alignment is also a problematic for NMD operators who use a pointer, such as a mouse, with which the operator indicates by a location on a surface, e.g. a desk top, which corresponds to a desired location on the display, and achieve alignment by removing the pointer from the surface, e.g. lifting the mouse, moving the mouse, then replacing it on the surface. Due to impaired fine motor control, many NMD operators cannot remove a pointer from the surface and replace it on the surface at a desired location without unintentional movement or extraordinary effort. For these operators, alignment cannot be effectively achieved through conventional means.

In summary, misalignment interferes with accurate pointing and the process of correcting for misalignment may result in the selection of unintended key images.

One object of the Alignment aspect of the invention is to allow an operator to align a pointer with a location on a surface.

Another object of the Alignment aspect of the invention is to indicate to an operator a location on a surface with which he may align a pointer.

Still another object of the Alignment aspect of the invention is to indicate to an operator when he may align a pointer with a location on a surface.

A further object of the Alignment aspect of the invention is to allow an operator having impaired motor control to align a pointer with a cursor.

G. Length Order

As noted previously, one of the elements determining the menu option selection time is the time the operator requires to comprehend the menu options displayed. This time may be reduced if the operator can limit the number of menu options he searches in looking for his desired menu option. Conventional word prediction systems attempt to reduce this operator search time. The operator of a conventional word prediction system may, for example, select the letter "p". The system displays some number, say six, of the most frequently used words beginning with the letter "p". Conventionally these six words are displayed either in alphabetic order or in order of frequency of use. Assuming the operator does not see his desired word on the display, he selects another letter, say "r". The system then displays the six most frequently used words beginning with the letters "pr".

Searching a displayed list of words in alphabetic order requires that the operator focus his attention on the selection task, as opposed to the information content of the conversation or other task the operator is engaged in. Further, determining whether a given word is alphabetically greater or lesser than a desired word takes substantial time, slowing the selection process. An alphabetically ordered list is of limited use to an individual who has below normal spelling ability, a frequent problem among individuals with impaired speech. Ordering words by frequency of use often does not limit the number of words the operator must search. The word at the bottom of the displayed list, for example, the sixth most frequently used word beginning with the letters "pr" may be a very common word, even though it is less frequently used than the other five displayed words.

One object of the Length Order aspect of the invention is to reduce the time an operator requires to comprehend displayed menu options.

Another object of the Length Order aspect of the invention is to reduce operator search time.

Still another object of the Length Order aspect of the invention is to limit the number of menu options an operator searches for in looking for his desired menu option.

A further object of the Length Order aspect of the invention is to speed data entry.

Yet another object of the Length Order aspect of the invention is to increase productivity in speech synthesis for an operator having impaired speech.

H. Location Indication

The difficulties experienced by NMD operators in pointing to relatively small selectable regions have already been described. One approach to these difficulties is to enlarge the on-screen selectable region, illustrated by the quaternary expansion on-screen keyboard already described. Another approach is the conventional eye gaze system for a speech impaired individual, depicted in FIG. 8. The system consists of a plexiglass frame (6352) having a centrally located aperture (6354). The eye gaze system is positioned between the speech impaired individual and person with whom the speech impaired individual is communicating. There are eight groups of five squares each on the plexiglass frame. Each square within each group of five squares is color coded, e.g. red, blue, green, yellow and clear, matching the color on each of the four corners of the plexiglass frame. The clear square matches the aperture (6354). All squares are labeled with symbols representing items to be communicated. These labels are not shown in FIG. 8. The person with whom the speech impaired individual is communicating observes the eyes of the speech impaired individual to determine the target of the speech impaired individual's eye gaze. To communicate an item, the speech impaired individual gazes first toward the one of the eight groups of five squares, indicating that he wants to communicate one of the symbols in that group, and gazes second toward one of the four corners and aperture (6354) matching the color of the square labeled with the item to be communicated in the previously indicated group.

Two types of selectable regions are conventionally used in a point and click menu interface in a graphical user interface. The first, shown in FIG. 9, depicts a menu having three menu options, labeled "High", "Medium" and "Low", each displayed on a display (4807), each associated respectively with selectable regions (4801), (4803) and (4805), and each located adjacent the associated selectable region. FIG. 10 depicts a menu having the same three menu options, each displayed on a display (4807), each associated respectively with selectable regions (4901), (4903) and (4905), and each intersecting the associated selectable region. In both these conventional menus, a menu option is selected by pointing to and clicking on the associated selectable region.

Conventional menu hierarchies in automated systems, built from menus of the type shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10, require that the operator proceed sequentially through the steps of searching menu options, selecting one of them, and, assuming a menu option including a submenu was selected, searching the submenu options, and selecting one of them. Where selection from menu hierarchies constitutes a substantial component of the operator's activities, the slowness of the selection process diminishes productivity.

Locating selectable regions or parts thereof outside the display, in accordance with the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention, allows the large areas outside the display to be used, a major advantage for operators having impaired fine motor control who are unable to maintain a pointer on a small selectable region while selecting by click or by dwell. However, if menu options are displayed on the display near the perimeter of display and near their associated selectable region, the operator has an indication of the location of each selectable region but may not be able to see all the displayed menu options in a glance. Because an operator usually searches a displayed menu for his intended menu option, placing the menu only near the perimeter of the display may increase menu search time, thus increasing menu option selection time.

One object of the Location Indication aspect of the invention is to indicate to an operator of a menu system having selectable regions outside the display, the menu option associated with each selectable region and the location of each selectable region.

Another object of the Location Indication aspect of the invention is to facilitate selection from a menu by an operator having impaired motor control.

Still another object of the Location Indication aspect of the invention is to speed selection of a menu option from a menu and of a submenu option from a menu hierarchy.

A further object of the Location Indication aspect of the invention is to speed speech synthesis for a person having impaired speech and impaired motor control.

I. Sound Match

Conventional speech recognition systems facilitate computer access for individuals unable to use a standard keyboard whose speech is relatively unimpaired, for example, an individual with quadriplegia, and hands-free computer access for able-bodied individuals. The operator of such a speech recognition system reads a menu option out loud, for example, "open file", and the system. which includes sound receiving means, for example, a microphone coupled to a sound board having a Digital Signal Processor ("DSP"), receives the sound of the read menu option, digitizes the sound of the read menu option, and then provides the digitized sound to another component of the speech recognition system, sound matching means which includes an application program for matching the digitized sound to one of a plurality of sounds, each representing respectively the sound of a spoken menu option. The system determines which sound best matches the sound of the read menu option and selects the menu option associated with this best matched sound.

Individuals whose speech is impaired are often unable to effectively use conventional speech recognition systems because they often cannot produce a large distinct variety of sounds characteristic of phonetic languages. For example, such an individual may produce similar sounds for the two consonants "t" and "d" so that these sound are indistinguishable to a conventional speech recognition system, or such an individual may not be able to consistently produce sounds distinguishable by a speech recognition system, resulting in false matches. Other symptoms of impaired speech, for example, similarities among certain phonemes and impaired ability to start or stop sound production appropriately, may substantially limit the variety of sounds distinguishable to a conventional speech recognition system an individual may consistently produce.

Conventional speech recognition systems provide limited capabilities in languages rich in homophones, for example, Chinese, because in such languages, a distinct sound is often insufficient to specify a word, as is described in the Background Art section of the Ideographic Languages aspect of the invention. The problem may be briefly illustrated by an example. Suppose a Chinese data entry operator using a conventional speech recognition system speaks the phonetic unit "fu" with a particular intonation. This distinct sound may well have over 15 homophones. Although the operator could use the keyboard to select one of these 15 homophones, this defeats the purpose of speech recognition, which is to facilitate hands-free computer access.

One object of the Sound Match aspect of the invention is to facilitate selection from a menu, and, in particular, from a menu of homophones.

Another object of the Sound Match aspect of the invention is to facilitate speech synthesis and voice activated computer access by individuals with speech impairments.

Still another object of the Sound Match aspect of the invention is to speed data entry in Ideographic Languages.

J. Ideographic Language

The use of ideographs as the graphic symbols in written languages is found in many parts of the world. An ideograph, as used herein, is a graphic symbol used to represent an object, an idea or a word, without expressing, as in a phonetic system, the specific sounds forming the verbal expression of the object, idea or word. Ideographic languages include Chinese, Japanese and Korean. A graphic symbol, as used herein, includes, but is not limited to, each of the following: a letter of an alphabet, a Japanese kana, and an ideograph. For purposes of illustrating the concepts of the present invention specific reference will be made herein to a preferred embodiment of the system and method as it applies to the Chinese language.

In modern Chinese, a repertoire of between 2500 and 3000 ideographs is necessary to achieve normal business adequacy in reading and writing, while the language itself has approximately 50,000 ideographs that have been identified historically, with about 10,000 ideographs in current use. The conventional keyboard, with approximately 100 keys, is designed for languages with phonetic scripts, such languages having a small set of graphic symbols, i.e. letters. If such a keyboard were to be used in a corresponding manner for the direct input of Chinese ideographs, it would require many thousands of keys since, unlike western phonetic languages, Chinese has many thousands of ideographs. Selection of an ideograph from such a keyboard would require the operator to search a great many keys for the desired key, and thus be impracticably slow.

Prior art methods for selecting Chinese ideographs make use of various ideograph classification systems known to Chinese speakers. The operator first specifies a class of ideograph, based on a first characteristic common to many ideographs. Ideographs having that common characteristic are displayed and the operator selects from among them, either directly, by selecting an individual ideograph, or indirectly, by specifying a second common characteristic usually dependent upon the first characteristic, thus further limiting the displayed ideographs to those having both the first and second common characteristics. In some prior art methods, the operator may continue to specify characteristics until he has specified a unique ideograph.

One ideograph classification system is called the Pin Yin System. This classification system uses the phonetic structure of the Chinese language. In spoken Chinese there are approximately 412 basic phonetic units, each having a monosyllabic sound, for example, "nee", "how" and "ma". Four intonations can potentially be applied to each phonetic unit, resulting in approximately 1280 distinct sounds. With 10,000 ideographs in current use, each represented by one of approximately 1280 distinct sounds, it is evident that many Chinese ideographs are homophones, i.e. have the same sound. Over 80% of Chinese ideographs have homophones. The Pin Yin System uses this limited number of phonetic units as the basis for its classification. Ideographs which are homophones are classified together; the common characteristic of the Pin Yin System is the distinct sound.

According to the Pin Yin and Zhu Yin coding methods, known in the prior art, the operator specifies a distinct sound using a keyboard labeled with symbols representing the Latin alphabet (Pin Yin method) or Chinese phonetic units (Zhu Yin method). The first key operation or sequence of key operations specifies the phonetic unit. The second key operation specifies the intonation. In general, less than 15 ideographs have this sound, though in some cases there are many more homophones. These are displayed and the user selects from among them. In such cases, the operator, depending upon the system, may page through matching ideographs or specify another common characteristic to further limit the number of ideographs displayed. A common characteristic which may be used at this stage exploits another feature of the Chinese language. The majority of Chinese words are expressed by a combination of two ideographs, the meaning of the paired ideographs has its own meaning which may or may not be related to that of the constituent ideographs. Assuming the operator has specified a first distinct sound matching 40 ideographs, he may specify a second distinct sound which alone may match, for example, 20 ideographs, but there may be only two ideograph pairs having the specified first and second distinct sounds in that order. Thus, a second common characteristic may limit matching ideograph pairs to a number sufficiently small for the operator to efficiently search and select from, or may uniquely specify an ideograph pair. Another common characteristic the operator may specify to limit the number of matching ideographs is a meaning or meaning class to which one or more sequences of one or more ideographs belong.

Yet another feature of the Chinese language which may be exploited to limit the number of matching sequences of ideographs is the ideograph block. An ideograph block is a sequence of four ideographs which together has its own meaning which may or may not be related to that of the constituent ideographs. As above, where the operator specified a distinct sound for the second of two ideographs of an ideograph pair, so may the operator specify a distinct sound for the second, third and/or fourth ideograph of an ideograph block, to limit the number of matching ideograph blocks.

Another conventional ideograph classification system makes use of a classification of parts of ideographs. Ideographs are built from a set of 214 components, called radicals. Different radicals, perhaps placed within different locations within an ideograph, are combined to create an ideograph. According to the Chan Jie coding method, known in the prior art, the operator specifies one or more radicals appearing in the ideograph he wishes to enter. He may, for example, use a keyboard having at least 214 keys, each corresponding to a radical, or may actuate a sequence of keys, the sequence corresponding to a radical. Other common characteristics the operator may specify to limit the number of matching ideographs include a phonetic unit, the first brush stroke, and the last brush stroke used to draw the ideograph.

Another conventional ideograph classification system makes use of a classification of parts of ideographs. According to the Four Corner coding method, known in the prior art, the operator specifies the classification of the four corners of the ideograph he wishes to enter. Other common characteristics the operator may specify to further limit the number of matching ideographs include the number of horizontal strokes used to draw the ideograph, and the classification of a certain part of the ideograph above the lower right corner.

Yet another conventional ideograph classification system makes use of a classification ideographs based on the basic strokes from which each ideograph is built. In Chinese, there are a limited number of basic strokes, each ideograph being composed of between 1 and 33 such strokes. Ideographs may be classified by a small number of basic strokes, preferably according to strict rules regarding the order of stroke entry. In one conventional application of this coding method, the operator specifies only the first and last basic strokes of the desired ideograph, then selects from a display of all ideographs sharing this first-last basic stroke combination.

Japanese is somewhat more complicated than Chinese. In addition to ideographs, the Japanese language uses graphic symbols called kana, which includes hiragana and katakana. In written Japanese, ideographs are frequently combined with kana. Kana may be may specified phonetically, for example, to designate the hiragana pronounced "ko" an operator of a Japanese word processing system may type "k" and then "o" on a Latin alphabetic keyboard or may type a single key associated with this hiragana. Kana has multiple uses in a Japanese word processing system. Kana may represent itself, since kana may stand alone in Japanese text. Alternatively, kana may be used to specify Japanese ideographs, either by specifying the radicals which compose Japanese ideographs or by specifying the pronunciation of Japanese ideographs. A sequence of phonetic units specified by kana may represent that sequence of kana, a single Japanese ideograph, multiple Japanese ideographs, or a combination of one or more Japanese ideographs and one or more kana. In addition, a single Japanese ideograph may have multiple pronunciations, including a Japanese pronunciation and a Chinese pronunciation, and may have multiple kana spellings.

Conventional word processing systems for ideographic languages suffer from certain deficiencies. First, in systems where the operator specifies common characteristics until he has uniquely specified an ideograph, the operator must be extensively trained in the particular classification system. Depending upon the system, the operator may need to know, for example, how may horizontal brush strokes are required to draw a desired ideograph, or each of the 214 radicals and the encoding of each of them on a keyboard having less than 214 keys. Second, in systems where the operator uses both hands on the keyboard to specify a common characteristic, then selects from among ideographs, ideograph pairs or ideograph blocks by operating a function key or by pointing to one of the options with a mouse or other hand operated pointer and then operating a switch, the operator lifts one of his hands from the keyboard, makes the selection and then moves his hand back to the keyboard to specify another common characteristic. This sequence occurs often and contributes to the slow average rate of word entry (approximately 20 words per minute) for Chinese relative to alphabetic languages. Another problem in these systems is that the display of ideographs for selection may obscure part of the image of the previously entered ideographs or other information on the display.

Another drawback of many word processing systems for ideographic languages relates to the ease of copying a document. Ideally, the operator concentrates on the document to be copied, only occasionally scanning text he has input. For those word processing systems that display ideographs on a display for the operator's selection, the operator must frequently shift his gaze from the document to the display and back again. The operator cannot concentrate on both the document and the display simultaneously.

Ideographs, as used herein, also include the symbols of symbol sets used for communication by individuals who have hearing, speech or language impairments, for teaching literacy skills to those lacking them, including pre-literate children and individuals with intellectual disabilities, and for international written communication. These symbol sets include, but are not limited to, each of the following: Picture Communication Symbols, Rebus, Picsym, Pictogram Ideogram Communication Symbols, Yerkish, Blissymbolics and depictions of the signs of a manual sign language. Examples of symbols of the Picture Communication Symbols. Rebus, Picsyms, and Blissymbolics symbol sets are shown in FIG. 11, Pictogram Ideogram Communication Symbols in FIGS. 12(a)-12(d) and Yerkish in FIGS. 13(a)-13(j). Picture Communication Symbols, Rebus, Picsyms, Pictogram Ideogram Communication Symbols, Yerkish, and Blissymbolics are each described in Beukelman, David R. & Mirenda, Pat, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Management of Severe Communication Disorders in Children and Adults, Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., 1992, pp. 22-29.

Individuals who have not acquired or who have lost their literacy skills may use symbolic symbol sets in learning to read. If the individual lacks fine motor control, for example, due to cerebral palsy, the individual's disability may inhibit the acquisition of literacy skills by, for example, inhibiting repetition of an exercise by the individual, by limiting the individual's ability to participate in the classroom, or by making skill assessment by a teacher difficult so that the teacher may incorrectly believe that remediation is necessary or that a particular skill has been mastered. If the individual also has impaired speech, literacy acquisition is more difficult still.

Conventional literacy training systems for individuals who are unable to use a standard keyboard or mouse may use switch access, often in combination with scanning. As already described, scanning is an extremely slow process. Moreover, as the number of symbols in the symbol set increases, the time required to select a symbol also increases. Of the symbol sets mentioned above, Picture Communication Symbols contains approximately 1800 symbols, Rebus contains approximately 800 symbols, Picsyms contains approximately 1800 symbols, Pictogram Ideogram Communication Symbols contains approximately 400 symbols and Blissymbolics contains approximately 1400 symbols. When using a system with a static display, the operator may expend considerable time and effort finding the desired symbol; when using a system with a dynamic display, the operator may expend considerable time effort memorizing and recalling where a particular symbol is located within a hierarchy of symbols. This time and effort generally does not contribute to the acquisition of literacy skills.

One object of the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention is to display a menu of sequences of one or more ideographs on a display so that a large contiguous area on the display is not obstructed by the menu.

Another object of the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention is to facilitate ideograph entry in word processing systems for the Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages.

Still another object of the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention is to speed selection of sequences of graphics including one or more ideographs.

Yet another object of the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention is to allow an operator of a word processing system for an ideographic language to select a sequence of one or more ideographs without lifting either hand from the keyboard.

A further object of the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention is to indicate to an operator the progress toward selection of a dwell-selectable sequence of one or more ideographic characters.

A still further object of the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention is to synthesize speech for an operator having impaired speech.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

II. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Disclosure of Invention

The objects mentioned in the Background Art section describing the Dwell aspect of the invention, and other objects and advantages are attained by the present invention. The invention includes an apparatus for indicating the remaining dwell time required to select a selectable region. The apparatus includes: (a) a display. The selectable region is capable of being at least partially delimited with respect to the display. The selectable region is associated with a sequence of one or more graphic symbols including an ideograph. The sequence is displayed on the display; (b) a movement related signal receiver for receiving a movement related signal. The movement related signal is responsive to user movement of a user. The user movement indicates successive locations with respect to the display; (c) an indicating device for: (1) modifying in a first manner the appearance of a first indicating region on the display responsive to a difference between a predetermined period and the duration of a first period of intersection of two or more of the successive locations and the selectable region. The duration of the first period of intersection does not equal or exceed the predetermined period; and (2) modifying in a second manner the appearance of a second indicating region on the display responsive to the duration of a second period of intersection of two or more of the successive locations and the selectable region equalling or exceeding the predetermined period. The second period of intersection includes all of the first period of intersection; and (d) a selector for selecting the sequence responsive to the duration of the second period of intersection equalling or exceeding the predetermined period.

The invention further includes an apparatus for indicating dwell time. The apparatus includes: (a) a surface. Each of a plurality of regions is capable of being at least partially delimited with respect to the surface; (b) a movement related signal receiver for receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement of a user. The user movement indicates: (i) a first starting location intersecting a particular one of the regions; (ii) at a time at or after the time the first starting location occurs, a second starting location intersecting the particular region; (iii) at a time after the time the second starting location occurs, a second intermediate location intersecting the particular region; (iv) at a time after the time the second intermediate location occurs, a second ending location intersecting the particular region; and (v) at a time after the time the second ending location occurs, a first ending location intersecting the particular region. A first period of intersection starts in response to the first starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the first ending location intersecting the particular region. A second period of intersection starts in response to the second starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the second ending location intersecting the particular region. The duration of the second period of intersection increases between the time the second intermediate location occurs and the time the second ending location occurs; (c) a selector for selecting the particular region responsive to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity. The first quantity is a function of the duration of the first period of intersection; and (d) a plurality of indicators, each associated respectively with one of the regions. The particular indicator is associated with the particular region. The particular indicator is for providing a continuous or apparently continuous indication to the user prior to the selector selecting the particular region. The indication is responsive to the increasing duration of the second period of intersection.

The invention further includes a menu option selector. The menu option selector is for use with a user interface system wherein a body member of a user indicates successive locations with respect to a surface. The menu option selector includes: (a) the surface. A selectable region is capable of being at least partially delimited with respect to the surface. The selectable region is associated with a menu option; (b) a detector for detecting the successive locations indicated by the body member; and (c) an indicator for indicating the duration of each of: (1) a first period of time during which two or more of the successive locations intersect the selectable region; (2) a second period of time, occurring after the first period, during which two or more of the successive locations do not intersect the selectable region; and (3) a third period of time, occurring after the second period, during which two or more of the successive locations intersect the selectable region; and (d) a selection device for selecting the menu option responsive to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity. The first quantity is a function of the duration of each of the first, second, and third periods.

The invention further includes a device controller. The device controller includes: (a) a display device for at least partially displaying a plurality of selectable regions on a display area. Each selectable region is associated respectively with a device control function; (b) a movement related signal receiver for receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement of the user. The user movement is capable of indicating a potential user selection and is capable of indicating three or more successive locations with respect to the display area; (c) an indicator for providing to a user of the device controller a steadily increasing indication of the increasing duration of a period of intersection of three or more of the successive locations indicated by the user movement and a particular one of the selectable regions; and (d) an initiation device for initiating the control function associated with the particular selectable region. The initiation devices is responsive to the duration of the period of intersection equalling or exceeding a predetermined period.

The invention further includes another apparatus for indicating dwell time. The apparatus is for use with a system allowing a user to select a particular menu option from a plurality of menu options. The particular menu option is associated with a particular region. The system includes: (1) a display area; and (2) a computer coupled to the display area for receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement of the user. The user movement is capable of indicating a potential user selection. The user movement is capable of indicating: (i) a first starting location intersecting the particular region; (ii) at a time at or after the time the first starting location occurs, a second starting location intersecting the particular region; (iii) at a time after the time the second starting location occurs, a second intermediate location intersecting the particular region; (iv) at a time after the time the second intermediate location occurs, a second ending location intersecting the particular region; and (v) at a time after the time the second ending location occurs, a first ending location intersecting the particular region. A first period of intersection starts in response to the first starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the first ending location intersecting the particular region. A second period of intersection starts in response to the second starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the second ending location intersecting the particular region. The duration of the second period of intersection increases between the time the second intermediate location occurs and the time the second ending location occurs. The apparatus includes: (a) a carrier readable by the computer; and (b) a first program, stored on or transmitted via the carrier and executable by the computer. The first program is for: (1) at least partially delimiting the particular region with respect to the display area; (2) selecting the particular menu option responsive to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity. The first quantity is a function of the duration of the first period of intersection; and (3) providing a continuous or apparently continuous indication to the user prior to the first program selecting the particular menu option. The indication is responsive to a second quantity, the second quantity being a function of the increasing duration of the second period of intersection.

The invention further includes a data entry system including: (a) a display. On the display are a plurality of selectable data entry items and a region for indicating the number of units of the data entry item selected; (b) a plurality of detectors, each associated respectively with one of the selectable data entry items; (c) a pointer for producing and emitting signals directed at a particular one of the data entry items for a steadily increasing period of time; and (d) a control device for controlling the operation of the data entry system. The control device includes: (1) a first indicator for producing signals in response to the signals falling on the detectors, the first indicator giving a continuous or apparently continuous first indication to a user of the data entry system of the steadily increasing period of time that the pointer has been directed at the particular data entry item; (2) a second indicator for giving a second indication to the user that the pointer has been directed at the particular data entry item for a period equalling or exceeding a predetermined period of time and that the particular data entry item is selected for entry into the data entry system; and (3) a third indicator for indicating in the region the number of units of the particular data entry item selected.

The invention further includes an order entry system including: (a) a display having thereon a plurality of selectable order entry items, a first region for indicating the number of units of the order entry item selected and a second region for indicating the total monetary value of the units selected; (b) a plurality of detectors, each associated respectively with one of the selectable order entry items; (c) a pointer for producing and emitting signals directed at a particular one of the order entry items for a steadily increasing period of time; and (d) a control device. The control device is for: (1) producing signals in response to the signals falling on the detectors. The control device gives a continuous or apparently continuous first indication to a user of the order system of the steadily increasing duration of the period that the pointer has been directed at the particular order entry item; (2) producing signals in response to the signals falling on the detectors. The control device gives a second indication to the user that the pointer has been directed at the particular order entry item for at least a predetermined period of time and that the particular order entry item is selected for entry into the order entry system; (3) indicating in the first region the number of units of the order entry item selected; (4) totaling the monetary value of the units selected; and (5) indicating in the second region the total monetary value of the units selected.

The invention further includes a voice output system including: (a) a display with respect to which each of a plurality of selectable regions is capable of being at least partially delimited. Each of the selectable regions is capable of being associated respectively with a sequence of one or more graphic symbols. Either a first one of the sequences is capable of representing a phrase including one or more words, or two or more of the sequences, when concatenated, are capable of representing the phrase; (b) a movement related signal receiver for receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement by a user of the voice output system. The user movement is capable of indicating a potential user selection. The user movement is capable of indicating first successive locations intersecting any of the selectable regions for a steadily increasing period of time; (c) an indicator for providing to the user a continuous or apparently continuous indication of either: (1) a steadily increasing first period of time. The indication is responsive to the duration of a first period of intersection of the first successive locations and the selectable region associated with the first sequence, or (2) the durations of each of two or more second periods of intersection of the first successive locations and each of the selectable regions associated with the two or more sequences; and (d) a voice output device for speaking the phrase in response to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity. The first quantity is a function of either the duration of the first period of intersection, or of the duration of each of the two or more second periods or intersection.

The invention includes yet another apparatus for indicating dwell time. The apparatus is for use with a system allowing a user to select a particular menu option from a plurality of menu options. The particular menu option is associated with a particular region. The system includes: (1) a display area; and (2) a movement related signal receiver for receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement of the user. The user movement is capable of indicating a potential user selection. The user movement is capable of indicating successive locations with respect to the display area. The successive locations include: (i) a first starting location intersecting the particular region; (ii) at a time at or after the time the first starting location occurs, a second starting location intersecting the particular region; (iii) at a time after the time the second starting location occurs, a second intermediate location intersecting the particular region; (iv) at a time after the time the second intermediate location occurs, a second ending location intersecting the particular region; and (v) at a time after the time the second ending location occurs, a first ending location intersecting the particular region. A first period of intersection starts in response to the first starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the first ending location intersecting the particular region. A second period of intersection starts in response to the second starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the second ending location intersecting the particular region. The duration of the second period of intersection increases between the time the second intermediate location occurs and the time the second ending location occurs. The apparatus includes: (a) a delimit device for at least partially delimiting the particular region with respect to the display area; (b) a selection device for selecting the particular menu option responsive to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity. The first quantity is a function of the duration of the first period of intersection; and (c) an indicator for providing a continuous or apparently continuous indication to the user prior to the selection device selecting the particular menu option. The indication is responsive to a second quantity. The second quantity is a function of the increasing duration of the second period of intersection.

The invention includes still another apparatus for indicating dwell time. The apparatus is for use with a system allowing a user to select a particular menu option from a plurality of menu options. The particular menu option is associated with a particular region. The system includes a display are. The apparatus includes: (a) delimit means for at least partially delimiting the particular region with respect to the display area; (b) movement related signal receiving means for receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement of the user. The user movement is capable of indicating a user potential selection. The user movement is capable of indicating: (1) a first starting location intersecting the particular region; (2) at a time at or after the time the first starting location occurs, a second starting location intersecting the particular region; (3) at a time after the time the second starting location occurs, a second intermediate location intersecting the particular region; (4) at a time after the time the second intermediate location occurs, a second ending location intersecting the particular region; and (5) at a time after the time the second ending locations occurs, a first ending location intersecting the particular region. A first period of intersection starts in response to the first starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the first ending location intersecting the particular region. A second period of intersection starts in response to the second starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the second ending location intersecting the particular region. The duration of the second period of intersection increases between the time the second intermediate location occurs and the time the second ending location occurs; (c) selection means for selecting the particular menu option responsive to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity. The first quantity is a function of the duration of the first period of intersection; and (d) indicating means for providing a continuous or apparently continuous indication to the user prior to the selection device selecting the particular menu option. The indication is responsive to a second quantity. The second quantity is a function of the increasing duration of the second period intersection.

The invention includes yet another apparatus for indicating dwell time. The apparatus is for use with a system allowing a user to select a particular menu option from at least three menu options. The system includes: (1) a display area for simultaneously displaying the at least three menu options; and (2) outside the display area, a switch activatable by the user. The switch has at least three discreet positions. Each of the positions is associated respectively with one of the at least three menu options. The switch is positionable with respect to the location of each of the menu options for selection thereof. The position of the switch is capable of corresponding to the location of the particular menu option at: (i) a first time; (ii) a second time occurring at or after the first time; (iii) a third time occurring after the second time; and (iv) a fourth time occurring after the third time. A first period starts at or near the first time and ends at or near the fourth time. A second period of starts at or near the second time. During the second period the position of the switch corresponds to the location of the particular menu option. The duration of the second period increases between the second time and the third time. The apparatus includes: (a) a selector for selecting the particular menu option in response to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity. The first quantity is a function of the duration of the first period; and (b) an indicator for providing a continuous or apparently continuous indication to the user prior to the selector selecting the particular menu option. The indication is responsive to a second quantity. The second quantity is a function of the increasing duration of the second period.

The invention further includes a method of indicating to a user the remaining dwell time required to select a selectable region. The method includes the steps of:

displaying the selectable region on a surface;

receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement by the user. The user movement indicates a first location and at least two successive locations. Each of the locations intersects the selectable region. Each of the at least two successive locations occur after the occurrence of the previous location. The duration of a period of intersection of the locations and the selectable region increases between the time the earliest of the at least two successive locations occur and the time the latest of the at least two successive locations occur;

providing a continuous or apparently continuous indication to the user responsive to a first quantity. The first quantity is a function of a first difference between: (a) a second predetermined quantity; and (b) the increasing duration of the period of intersection; and

selecting the selectable region responsive to the duration of the period of intersection equalling or exceeding the second predetermined quantity.

The invention further includes a method of indicating dwell time. The method is for use with a system allowing a user to select a particular menu option from a plurality of menu options. The particular menu option is associated with a particular region. The system includes a display area. The method includes: (a) at least partially delimiting the particular region with respect to the display area; (b) receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement of the user. The user movement is capable of indicating a potential user selection. The user movement is capable of indicating successive locations with respect to the display area. The successive locations include: (1) a first starting location intersecting the particular region; (2) at a time at or after the time the first starting location occurs, a second starting location intersecting the particular region; (3) at a time after the time the second starting location occurs, a second intermediate location intersecting the particular region; (4) at a time after the time the second intermediate location occurs, a second ending location intersecting the particular region; and (5) at a time after the time the second ending location occurs, a first ending location intersecting the particular region. A first period of intersection starts in response to the first starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the first ending location intersecting the particular region. A second period of intersection starts in response to the second starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the second ending location intersecting the particular region. The duration of the second period of intersection increases between the time the second intermediate location occurs and the time the second ending location occurs; (c) selecting the particular menu option responsive to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity. The first quantity is a function of the duration of the first period of intersection; and (d) providing a continuous or apparently continuous indication to the user prior to selecting the particular menu option, the indication responsive to a second quantity. The second quantity is a function of the increasing duration of the second period of intersection.

Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed descriptions, wherein I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of each aspect of the invention simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by me of carrying out each aspect of my invention. As will be realized, each aspect of the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention.

Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a display showing a conventional on-screen keyboard.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a display showing a conventional on-screen keyboard and output from a word processing application program.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are each illustrations of the display of each step of letter selection using a conventional quaternary on-screen keyboard.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a display showing a conventional quaternary on-screen keyboard and output from two application programs.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a conventional device implementing joystick patterns.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a display of a conventional eye gaze system.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are each illustrations of a display showing a conventional menu.

FIG. 11 depicts examples of symbols from the Picture Communication Symbols, Rebus, PicSym and Blissymbols symbol sets.

FIG. 12(a)-FIG. 12(d) depict examples of symbols from the Pictogram Ideogram Communication Symbols symbol set.

FIG. 13(a)-FIG. 13(j) depict examples of symbols from the Yerkish symbol set.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a computer which may be utilized in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a speech synthesis system which may be utilized in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an illustration of software components of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are each illustrations of a display and structures in accordance with an embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention.

FIG. 19 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with another embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention.

FIG. 20 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with still another embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention.

FIG. 21 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with another embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention.

FIG. 22 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with yet another embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention.

FIG. 23 is an illustration of an apparatus in accordance with a further embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention.

FIGS. 24 and 25 are each illustrations of a display and structures in accordance with another embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention.

FIGS. 26 and 27 illustrate an apparatus in accordance with still another embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention. FIG. 26 depicts a front view of the apparatus. FIG. 27 depicts a cut away view from the top of the apparatus.

FIG. 28 is a top view of a headrest in accordance with an embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect invention.

FIGS. 29 and 30 illustrate the state table aPocketFsm in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention.

FIG. 31 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the Confinement aspect of the invention.

FIG. 32 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with another embodiment of the Confinement aspect of the invention.

FIG. 33 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with another embodiment of the Confinement aspect of the invention.

FIG. 34 is an illustration of an apparatus in accordance with the Dwell aspect of the invention and with the Path Directness aspect of the invention.

FIG. 35 is an illustration of another apparatus in accordance with the Dwell aspect of the invention.

FIG. 36 is an illustration of still another apparatus in accordance with the Dwell aspect of the invention.

FIG. 37 is an illustration of yet another apparatus in accordance with the Dwell aspect of the invention.

FIG. 38 is an illustration of another apparatus in accordance with the Dwell aspect of the invention.

FIG. 39 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the Path Directness aspect of the invention.

FIG. 40 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with an embodiment of the Path Directness aspect of the invention.

FIG. 41 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with another embodiment of the Path Directness aspect of the invention.

FIG. 42 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with another embodiment of the Path Directness aspect of the invention.

FIG. 43 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with another embodiment of the Path Directness aspect of the invention.

FIGS. 44, 45 and 46 are each illustrations of a display and structures in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the Intersection aspect of the invention.

FIGS. 47 and 48 are each illustrations of a display and structures in accordance with another embodiment of the Intersection aspect of the invention.

FIGS. 49, 50 and 51 are each illustrations of a display and structures in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the Alignment aspect of the invention.

FIG. 52 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the Location Indication and the Length Order aspects of the invention.

FIG. 53 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with an embodiment of the Location Indication aspect of the invention.

FIGS. 54 and 55 are each illustrations of a display and structures in accordance with another embodiment of the Location Indication aspect of the invention.

FIG. 56 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with a still further embodiment of the Location Indication aspect of the invention.

FIG. 57 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with a further embodiment of the Location Indication aspect of the invention.

FIGS. 58 and 59 are illustrations of a display and structures in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the Sound Match aspect of the invention.

FIG. 60 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with another embodiment of the Sound Match aspect of the invention.

FIG. 61 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with another embodiment of the Sound Match aspect of the invention.

FIG. 62 is a block diagram of a speech recognition system which may be utilized in accordance with the Sound Match aspect of the invention.

FIG. 63 is an illustration of software components of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the Sound Match aspect of the invention.

FIG. 64 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention.

FIG. 65 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with another embodiment of the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention.

FIG. 66 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with still another embodiment of the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention.

FIG. 67 is an illustration of a display and structures in accordance with yet another embodiment of the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The hardware and software operating environment of the preferred embodiment of all aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to a particular embodiment of the invention, hereinafter "prototype". The prototype of the invention illustrates the best mode of practicing each aspect of the invention known by me except where a preferred mode is described.

FIG. 15 depicts a block diagram of the hardware components of the prototype (2214), including a conventional general purpose computer system (2218), an optional pointer (2202), an optional printer (2220) and a speech synthesizer (2206). The general purpose computer system (2218) includes a conventional computer system (2116), a storage unit (2208), a keyboard (2210), and a diskette drive (2216). FIG. 14 depicts a block diagram of the conventional computer system (2116), including a processing unit (2102) and a display (2112). The processing unit (2102) includes a processor (2104), a memory (2106) and control circuitry (2108). The prototype employs the Toshiba T6400DXC general purpose computer system manufactured by Toshiba Corporation, Kawasaki, Japan. However, the T6400DXC is preferably substituted with the IBM ThinkPad 755C computer system, part number 9545F0C, manufactured by IBM Corporation, Armonk, N.Y. U.S.A. because the former requires a 110VAC power source while the latter is powered by an integral battery. An integral battery allows an NMD operator to use the system when a 100VAC source is not available or when attaching to a 110VAC power source is inconvenient. The prototype further includes a head mounted pointer communicating via an infrared link with the computer system so that there are no cables tethering the operator to the computer system. Any cable between the operator and the computer system would have to be connected, probably by an attendant since the operator may lack the fine motor skills required to make such a connection. Preferably computer access can be accomplished independently by the operator. The choice of a pointing device is primarily dictated by the particular capabilities of the operator. Usually the best pointing device for a particular operator is the one drawing on that operator's best motor control. For example, if an operator's foot control is superior to his head control, a pointing device using his foot is preferably to a head pointer.

The prototype employs the Remote Headmaster® manufactured by the Prentke Romich Company, Wooster, Ohio, U.S.A. However, the combination of the HeadMaster® Plus, part number HM-1P, HeadMaster® Plus Remote Adapter, part number HM-RA, and HeadMaster® Plus Laptop Adapter, part number HM-LA, all available from the Prentke Romich Company, is preferable because the headset is more comfortable and the HeadMaster® Plus ultrasonic transmitter mounts more easily on a laptop computer system than the Remote Headmaster ultrasonic transmitter.

The preferred embodiment further includes a battery powered printer, the MobileWriter®, part number 730879, manufactured by Mannessmann Tally Corporation, Kent, Wash., U.S.A. and a speech synthesizer, the Multivoice Speech Synthesizer, part number MV2-SS, manufactured by The Institute on Applied Technology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass., U.S.A.

The pointer (2202) is a device which provides data concerning the relative or absolute position of the operator or anv body member of the operator. The display (2112) and pointer (2202) together provide for the interactive nature of the general purpose computer system (2218) in that, in accord with the various aspects of the invention, the interpretation that the processor (2104) gives to a certain pointer action made by the operator depends, in the majority of situations, upon what is being displayed to the operator at that time.

The prototype (2214) shown in FIG. 15 further includes a keyboard (2210), which functions to provide input from an able-bodied operator to the general purpose computer system (2218). The keyboard (2210) is useful for configuration, diagnostic and backup purposes, functions which are performed relatively infrequently and usually require an able-bodied person for ancillary activities, for example, loading backup media into the general purpose computer system. The prototype (2214) also optionally includes a printer (2220) which functions to provide hard copy output of data developed or stored in the general purpose computer system, and a speech synthesizer (2206), which functions to provide speech output for utterances and words composed using or retrieved from the general purpose computer system (2218).

The couplings between the devices depicted in FIG. 15 may be made by any means which permits the orderly and timely exchange of data across the interface. In the preferred embodiment, the interfaces between the pointer (2202) and the general purpose computer system (2218) and between the general purpose computer system (2218) and the speech synthesizer (2206) conform to the Electronic Industries Association RS-232 interface specification. The interface between the general purpose computer system (2218) and the printer (2220) conform to the Centronix 50 pin parallel interface specification.

The software component of the prototype are stored in memory (2106) and executed on the processing unit (2102). The software component of the prototype, depicted in FIG. 16, include a software driver (1202), an operating system (1204), an optional database program (1210), and the prototype access program code and data, hereinafter collectively referred to as the "access program" (1206). In the preferred embodiment, one or more application programs (1208) may also execute on the processing unit (2102) and accept control and data from the access program (1206) via the operating system (1204). The software driver (1202) of the prototype is the Logitech Mouse Driver included with Windows® version 3.1. The operating system (1204) of the prototype is Windows® version 3.1 in combination with MS-DOS® version 6.2. Hereinafter, the operating system is referred to simply as "Windows®", available from Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash., U.S.A.

The optional database program (1210) is described in the detailed description of the Length Order aspect of the invention. The prototype access program (1206) is described in detail below.

As stated earlier, the software components of the prototype are stored in memory (2106). Depending on the capacity of memory (2106) and the size of the application programs, portions of these programs may be transferred as needed between memory (2106) and the storage unit (2206) or between memory (2106) and a diskette in the diskette drive (2216) depicted in FIG. 15. The basic function of the storage unit (2206) and the diskette drive (2216) is to store programs and data that are employed by the general purpose computer system (2218) and which may readily be transferred to the memory (2106) when needed.

It is to be understood that components others than those used in the prototype may be utilized in accordance with the invention. It is only necessary that the substitute component or components have the capacity to carry out the functions described. For example, the processing unit of the general purpose computer system may be substituted with a microprocessor coupled to custom electronics for performing the functions of the various aspects of the invention, or the color display of the prototype may be substituted with a monochrome display.

A. Perimeter Menu

The preferred embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention will now be described in detail from a functional perspective using an example. This description refers to selectable regions which include one or more subregions. A selectable region is a region, delimited with respect to a display or a surface, and associated with a menu option which may be selected, usually by a selection event. A subregion is a selectable region that is included within another selectable region. Thus a subregion is, by itself, a selectable region. Assuming that a certain selectable region includes subregions A and B, dwell time on subregions A and B may be combined, for example, by summing, so that dwelling on either subregion A or B or a combination of both for the selection threshold period selects the menu option associated with the selectable region.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 17 and 18 which depict an example of the preferred embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention. FIG. 17 shows the display (2112) of a general purpose computer system (2218 in FIG. 15) and eight selectable regions. Each of the eight selectable regions consists of the union of a visible subregion on the display (2112) and an invisible subregion located outside the display (2112) and adjacent the visible subregion. For example, the selectable region at 11 o'clock in FIG. 17 labeled with menu option "vort<space>x" consists of invisible subregion (0104) and visible subregion (0106), and within this description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention is referred to as selectable region (0104/0106). The other selectable regions shown in FIG. 17, proceeding counter clockwise from selectable region (0104/0106) are (0108/0110), (0112/0114), (0116/0118), (0120/0122), (0124/0126), (0128/0130) and (0132/0134). Each subregion may be sized to suit the operator's preferences and abilities. Each selectable region is associated respectively with a menu option. In FIG. 17, selectable region (0104/0106) is associated with menu option vort<space>x, selectable region (0108/0110) with menu option "sumac", selectable region (0112/0114) with menu option "wizen", selectable region (0116/0118) with the menu option undo indicated by an icon on visible subregion (0118) representing an undo function, selectable region (0120/0122) with menu option "words", selectable region (0124/0126) with menu option "talk", selectable region (0128/0130) with menu option "ldhbfk" and selectable region (0132/0134) with menu option "ypgqj,". Together, the eight visible subregions circumscribe region (0150) on the display.

Selectable regions may be delimited by data indicative of one or more boundaries of the selectable region. Equivalently, the delimit means may be detectors operative to determine when the location indicated by the movement related signal has crossed one of those boundaries or intersects a selectable region. A partially delimited region or subregion is one which is unbounded on at least one side.

Resuming, now, with the example, to select a menu option associated with a selectable region the operator moves a pointer (2202 in FIG. 15) coupled to the general purpose computer system (2218 in FIG. 15) to indicate a location on the selectable region, including either subregion, associated with the desired menu option and maintains the indicated location on the selectable region for the selection threshold period. The period of time required for selection may vary responsive to the proximity of the indicated location to the location of a cursor on the display or to the proximity of the indicated location to a point within the intersected selectable region. Dwell time may be continuous, discontinuous or dynamic (described below) for either or both subregions of the selectable region.

Selection in the above example is in response to a dwell event. A dwell event includes, but is not limited to, each of the following: (a) the durations of one or more periods of intersection of locations indicated by a movement related signal, a body member or a cursor (including any part of the cursor) and a selectable region equalling or exceeding a predetermined period; (b) a first quantity responsive to the durations of the periods referred to in (a) equalling or exceeding a predetermined quantity; (c) dwell event (a) or (b) followed by a location indicated by the movement related signal, the body member or the cursor no longer intersecting the intersected selectable region; and (d) dwell event (a) or (b) wherein the period of intersection required for selection of a selectable region increases in response to a non-intersection or a period of non-intersection of locations indicated by the movement related signal, the body member or the cursor and the selectable region ("dynamic dwell event"). The use of non-intersection or a period of non-intersection in determining the duration of a period of intersection required for selection is called dynamic dwell. Associated with each type of dwell event is an intersected selectable region. This is the selectable region intersected by the location indicated by the movement related signal, body member or cursor which triggers the dwell event by causing the period or the first quantity to equal or exceed the predetermined period or the predetermined quantity, respectively.

Selection may also be in response to a selection event. A selection event includes, but is not limited to: (a) a dwell event; (b) a switch operation at or near the time of an intersection of a location indicated by a movement related signal, a body member or a cursor and a selectable region; (c) an intersection of a location indicated by a movement related signal, a body member or a cursor and a selectable region; and (d) selection event (c) followed by a location indicated by the movement related signal, the body member or the cursor no longer intersecting the selectable region it previously intersected. Associated with each type of selection event is an intersected selectable region. This is the selectable region intersected by the location indicated by the movement related signal, body member or cursor. The fact that a selection event has occurred may be indicated to the operator, for example, visually by changing the cursor appearance or location, by changing location, size, shape, hue, brightness, contrast, tone, dithering, pattern, hatching, font or fill of an object on the surface, or by displaying a graphic or a point distinguishable from its immediate surroundings on a surface or removing a graphic or point distinguishable from its immediate surroundings from a surface; auditively by generating a sound or changing the pitch or volume of an extant sound; tactilely by changing the surface or temperature of a contact area or the pressure exerted by a contact area; or by other means. In the prototype, following selection, the hue of the visible subregion of the selected selectable region is changed from green to magenta.

As used herein, a cursor includes a temporary marking on a display which emphasizes to an operator, in an optical manner, a momentarily important location or object. As used herein, body member means any part of the body including, but not limited to, each of the following: the shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist, hand, finger, thumb, leg, knee, ankle, foot, toe, hip, trunk, neck, tongue, lip, eye and head. The received movement related signal includes, but is not limited to, a signal indicative of movement or from which movement can be derived, such as a plurality of relative or absolute positions or a difference between two relative or absolute positions. Movement related signal receiving means includes, but is not limited to, each of the following: (a) pointer interface circuitry found in a general purpose computer system; (b) one or more detectors operative to detect movement of a pointer; and (c) one or more detectors operative to detect movement of a body member of an operator. In the prototype, the movement related signal receiving includes electronic circuitry in the general purpose computer system (2218) operative to receive the movement related signal generated in part by the movement of the pointer (2202).

A movement related signal receiver, as used herein, includes each of movement related signal receiving means and an apparatus for receiving a signal indicative of movement. A voice output device, as used herein, includes each of a speech synthesizer and an apparatus for playing back a voice recording, including a digital or analog voice recording. A delimit device, as used herein, includes each of delimit means and an apparatus for at least partially delimiting regions. An indicator or indicating device, as used herein, includes each of indicating means, a device for indicating, and a region on a display used for indicating. A selector or selection device, as used herein, includes each of selection means and an apparatus allowing a user to make a selection, usually from a menu, i.e. selecting a menu option from a plurality of menu options. A display or display device, as used herein, includes each of display means, a screen, a panel, a projector, a surface used as a display, and an apparatus for displaying information, one or more menu options, one or more selectable regions, or one or more indicating regions. A control device, as used herein, includes an apparatus allowing a user to at exercise at least some control over a controlled device. An initiation device, as used herein, includes an apparatus allowing a user to initiate a function of a controlled device. Each of delimit devices, indicators, indicating devices, selectors, selection devices, displays, display devices, control devices, and initiation devices include apparatuses implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.

In the prototype subregions are displayed on the display (2112). However, other means for displaying may be substituted for the means used in the prototype, for example, a projector for projecting an image, a surface having a static display thereon, or other suitable means.

Resuming, now, with the example of FIG. 17, and assuming that the operator has selected menu option "vort<space>x", the display is changed to that shown in FIG. 18. In FIG. 18, each of six selectable regions is now associated with a submenu option of the selected menu option "vort<space>x". Selectable region (0104/0106) is now associated with submenu option "<space>", selectable region (0108/0110) with submenu option "o", selectable region (0112/0114) with submenu option "t", selectable region (0124/0126) with submenu option "x", selectable region (0128/0130) with submenu option "v", and selectable region (0132/0134) with submenu option "r". Selectable regions (0116/0118) and (0120/0122) remains associated with the same menu options with which each was associated in FIG. 17. The operator may now select one of these submenu options.

Assuming that the selected submenu option is one of v, o, r, t, x and space, the selected character, or a corresponding computer encoding of that character, may be input to an apparatus coupled to the general purpose computer system (2218 in FIG. 15), or input to an application program (1208) executing on the general purpose computer system (2218) coupled to the display (2112). Inputting, as used herein, includes, but is not limited to, generating or passing signals representative of the selected menu option along a path toward the destination apparatus or program. Preferably, the computer program displays at least some of its output in the circumscribed region (0150).

Given a display having eight selectable regions, an operator may, with a single selection indicate one of eight menu options, with two selections indicate one of up to 64 different menu options, with three selections indicate one of up to 256 menu options, etc. Each of these menu options may represent a sequence of one or more characters, a sequence of one or more data or control inputs to an application program (1208), or a control function for one or more devices or speech synthesizers coupled to the general purpose computer system (2218). As used herein, a character includes a space, a control character as defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the American Standard Code for Information Exchange (ASCII), and a letter from one of the Afrikaans, Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Assamese, Assyrian, Avar, Azerbaijani, Balinese, Bamara, Bantu, Bashkir, Basque, Bengali, Birhari, Bulgarian, Buluba-Lulua, Burmese, Buryat, Byelorussian, Caddoan, Catalan, Chechen, Chikaranga, Chippewa, Choctaw, Church Slavik, Chuvash, Coptic, Cree, Croatian, Cyrillic, Czech, Dakota, Danish, Dari, Devanagari, Dutch, Dzongkha, English, Eskimo, Esperanto, Estonian, Ewe, Farsi, Fijian, Filipino, Finnish, Flemish, French, Fulani, Gaelic, Galician, Georgian, German, Greek, Gujarati, Gurmakhi, Harari, Hausa, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindi, Hiragana, Ibo, Icelandic, Indonesian, Irish, Irogquoian, Italian, Kabardian, Kalmyk, Kannada, Kanuri, Kashmiri, Katakana, Kazakh, Khasi, Khmer, Kirghiz, Kishmiri, Komi, Kongo, Kurdish, Lao, Latin, Latvian, Lithuanian, Lu-Guanda, Macedonian, Magahi, Maithili, Makua, Malagasy, Malay, Malayalam, Maltese, Mandingo, Manipuri, Marathi, Masai, Mizo, Moldavian, Mongolian, Munda, Naga, Navaho, Nyanja, Nepalese, Norwegian. Oriya. Oromo, Ossetian, Pashto, Polish, Portugese, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Rhaeto-Romanic, Rumanian, Russian, Samoan, Sangs, Serbian, Serbo-Croatian, Sinhalese, Sinhi, Sioux, Slovak, Slovenia, Spanish, Sundanese, Swahili, Swedish, Syriac, Tadzhik, Tagalog, Tajik, Tamil, Tatar, Telugu, Thai, Tibetan, Turkish, Turkmen, Udmurt, Uighur, Ukranian, Umbundu, Urdu, Uzbek, Vietnamese, Visayan, Welsh, Yakut, Yoruba and phonetic alphabets. As used herein, each of a character, ideograph, control input and control function includes a computer encoding of the same. As used herein, a device includes, but is not limited to, each of a wheelchair, a household appliance, an appliance for use in an office, a workstation, a robot, and a computer peripheral. Thus, by selecting from a menu, the operator may, for example, increase the volume of an external speech synthesizer, or turn a wheelchair to the left.

The selectable regions organized as described above help an NMD operator make the menu selection he intends. Referring to FIG. 17, suppose, for example, an NMD operator intends to move a pointer (2202) that is indicating point (0154) to indicate point (0156), a location in subregion (0130), but who is unable to quickly stop motion, so that the location indicated by the pointer (2202) moves from point (0154) past point (0156) to point (0158). Because point (0158) lies within the same selectable region (0128/0130) as the overshot subregion (0130), dwelling at point (0158) operates to select the intended selectable region (0128/0130). Invisible subregions, in accordance with the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention, may extend outward from the edge of the display (2112) to infinity. In such an embodiment, dwelling at point (0162) would operate to select selectable region (0128/0130). Preferably, invisible subregions extend a finite distance from the edge of the display (2112). In such an embodiment, dwelling at point (0162) would not operate to select selectable region (0128/0130). The sizes of the invisible subregions shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 are illustrative only. Preferably the size of each invisible subregion is large enough to encompass overshoot but small enough to avoid unintentional selections when the NMD operator turns to see someone or something.

The prototype utilizes the area outside the display to facilitate menu selection by a disabled operator. If an operator has impaired ability to maintain a steady position, he can point to a relatively large invisible subregion outside the display which is more forgiving of the operator's involuntary motion than the relatively small selectable regions on the display in conventional on-screen keyboards. Thus, the effective area of a selectable region is expanded beyond the region's visible subregion shown on a display. If an operator has impaired ability to stop motion he may, starting from the center of the screen, point to any selectable region. His impaired ability to stop will not impair his ability to select his intended target, assuming his directional control is relatively unimpaired, since, in the prototype, each selectable region is unbounded on its side furthest from the center of the display. Although the selectable regions of the prototype are large, only the visible subregion of each selectable region uses space on the display. Thus a large rectangular region remains available on the display for the output of an application program. The Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention is preferably implemented on a general purpose computer system. If the general purpose computer system is coupled to a speech synthesizer and the menu hierarchy allows the selection of letters and/or words, an operator having impaired speech may speak using the speech synthesizer. If a word processing or data entry application program is run on the general purpose computer system, the operator may enter words or data, respectively, for input to the application program. If the general purpose computer system is coupled to a devices capable of executing commands and the menu hierarchy allows the selection of commands, a disabled operator may select and issue commands to control these devices.

Since the cognitive demand for scanning is greater than that for direct selection, the prototype places less cognitive demand on the operator than a scanning system for selecting options from a menu.

FIG. 19 illustrates a display in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention having eight selectable regions circumscribing a central region (6950) on the display.

FIG. 20 illustrates a display in accordance with an embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention having twenty selectable regions circumscribing a central region (0806) on the display.

FIG. 21 illustrates a display in accordance with an embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention having four selectable regions (0508), (0506), (0504) and (0502) circumscribing a central region (0510) on the display.

FIG. 22 illustrates a display in accordance with an embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention having four selectable regions (4008), (4006), (4004) and (4002) with no space between them other than a circumscribed region (4010) on the display.

FIG. 23 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with of another embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention. In FIG. 23, region (3510) is located on interior display (3514) which is circumscribed by peripheral display (3512). Selectable regions (3508), (3535), (3504) and (3502) are located on the peripheral display (3512).

FIGS. 24 and 25 are each illustrations of a display and structures in accordance with another embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention. FIG. 24 depicts ten selectable regions (6502), (6504), (6506), (6508), (6510), (6512), (6514), (6514), (6516), (6518), and (6520) Each selectable region is located on the display (2112) adjacent the edge of the display and associated respectively with a menu option. In FIG. 24, the menu options are shown on their associated selectable region. Together the ten selectable region circumscribe region (6550) on the display. In response to only an intersection of a location indicated by a movement related signal and selectable region (6506), the display changes to that shown in FIG. 25, on which are located ten selectable regions each located on the display (2112) adjacent the edge of the display, nine of the ten selectable regions associated respectively with a submenu option. Selectable region (6608) is not associated with a submenu option. Any submenu option may be selected by a selection event.

FIGS. 26 and 27 illustrate an apparatus in accordance with still another embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention. FIG. 26 depicts a front view of the apparatus; FIG. 27 a cut away view from the top of the apparatus. FIG. 26 depicts detector area (0348 in FIG. 27) on, in or below which are located a plurality of selectable regions (0304), (0306), (0308), (0310), (0312), (0314), (0316), (0318), (0320), (0322), (0324), (0326), (0328), (0330), (0332), (0334), (0336), (0338), (0340) and (0342). Adjacent the detector area (0348 in FIG. 27) is a berm (0350 in both FIGS. 26 and 27) for confining a body member of the operator or a pointer controlled by the operator to the detector area (0348 in FIG. 27).

Still another apparatus in accordance with the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 28 which depicts a headrest for an operator using his head to indicate a location on a display. FIG. 28 shows an irregularity (0703) on the surface (0701) of the headrest. The irregularity is in physical contact with the operator and tactilely indicates to him the position of his head. The tactile indication means may be concave, convex or both or may differ from the surface in temperature. For individuals having impaired ability to sense the position of a body member, e.g. the operator's head, the tactile input thus provided to the operator improves the operator's ability to sense the position of his head.

The prototype of the invention will now be described in detail and where the preferred mode of practicing the invention differs from the prototype, the preferred mode is described. The description is broken into several parts:

1. A brief overview of how a state table works.

2. A description of the operation of the events, state table and state processing used in the prototype.

3. A general description of each event and one example of the use of that event.

4. An example of state machine processing in the operation of the prototype.

The prototype implements the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention as a state table. A state table is a tool for processing sequential inputs and is most easily understood by analogy. Imagine yourself in a room having a ticket window and three exits, each regulated by a turnstile. You collect a ticket at the ticket window which, when inserted into the appropriate turnstile, allows passage to a connecting room. The turnstile keeps the ticket. Any given ticket operates only one turnstile in a room, though different tickets may operate the same turnstile. You begin in a certain room, collect a ticket, insert it into the appropriate turnstile and pass to a connecting room, where you perform certain tasks associated with the new room. Then you collect another ticket from the ticket window in that room, insert the ticket into the appropriate turnstile in that room, pass to a connecting room, perform certain tasks associated with the new room, and so on.

The state table used in the prototype is depicted in FIGS. 29 and 30. Moving from the analogy above, the rooms are states represented by the rows of the state table; the tickets are events represented by the columns of the state table. Each entry in the state table represents a passage from one state to another. The tasks performed upon entry into a room correspond to the processing performed by the processor (2104) on entry to a new state ("state processing"). For example, state processing may cause a slight lightening of the color of a selectable region. Reentry into that state five times may successively lighten a selectable region five times.

In the prototype, each selectable region is directly controlled by one associated state machine. Each state machine directly controls only its associated selectable region. Each state machine includes data uniquely associated with its associated selectable region, the shared state table shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, and the shared code for state processing, described below. This embodiment means that the state machine associated with selectable region (1614) may be in state ST₋₋ SELECTED while the state machine associated with selectable region (1602) is in state ST₋₋ INITIAL. In the prototype, these separate states are reflected only in separate values for data uniquely associated with each state machine. Each state machine has a unique index.

The state table used in the prototype defines 18 states, composed of states zero through seventeen shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. State 1 (ST₋₋ ERROR₋₋ STATE in FIG. 29) is not used. Preferably, it is omitted. In the prototype, the differences between the several state machines, for example, the state of a particular state machine at any given time, are confined to data structures associated with that state machine. The state machines share the same code and the same state table. In other words, returning to the ticket and turnstile analogy, there are multiple travelers each with his own ticket (event) and his own baggage (data) moving from room to room in the same labyrinth. Each traveler's actions in each room usually affect only his own baggage.

In the prototype, there are two types of sequential inputs processed by the state table: external events and internal events. External events are generated outside the state table, for example, by the operator moving the pointer (2202) or by a timer expiring. Pointer movement may generate an event indicating that the operator has moved the cursor across the selectable region boundary from without the selectable region to within it. This event causes a transition from one state to another ("drives" a state machine to a new state). For example, assuming a state machine is in state ST₋₋ CREST₋₋ TIDE, row 6 in the state table shown in FIG. 29, when an event EV₋₋ CROSS₋₋ OUT, column 4 of the state table, occurs. At the intersection of row 6 and column 4 is a 7. This represents the new state, row 7 of the state table, state ST₋₋ SELECTED. Thus event EV₋₋ CROSS₋₋ OUT drives the state machine from state ST₋₋ CREST₋₋ TIDE to state ST₋₋ SELECTED. On entry to the new state, the computer performs the state processing associated with the new state.

Internal events are generated during state processing to handle circumstances where a first state transition is made due to an external event and the processing associated with the new state determines that a second state transition is necessary. The first, external, event has already been used so a second, internal, event is generated by the state. For example, if the operator has a prolonged muscle spasm, common among individuals with CP, or loses his grip on a hand held pointing device, the cursor may sit without moving on a selectable region for a considerable period of time. It is desirable to detect this condition, move the cursor to the center of the screen so the operator can easily find the cursor, and reset all selectable regions to their initial color. Detection is accomplished with a timer. On timer expiration, a state machine transitions to state ST₋₋ IDLE which centers the cursor. From there it is desirable to transition to state ST₋₋ RESET which, among other processing, initializes selectable region color. The transition from state ST₋₋ IDLE to state ST₋₋ RESET is driven by an internal event, generated by state ST₋₋ IDLE state processing.

Although the preferred embodiment uses only one state to perform certain state processing, that state processing may be equivalently performed in multiple states. Likewise, the state processing of multiple states of the described embodiment may be equivalently performed in a single state.

Although the prototype uses a state table to control the flow of program execution and to select one of a plurality of selectable regions, the same function may be equivalently performed using object oriented software architecture, if-then-else statements or a combination of these. In particular, in accord with object oriented software architecture, each state machine may be equivalently represented as an instantiation of a selectable region class for processing inputs affecting a particular selectable region.

Although the described embodiment uses a single processor, state table and code for state processing for all the selectable regions, each of these may be duplicated. Alternate embodiments may include processors, electronic circuitry, state tables or code for state processing used for processing fewer than all the selectable regions or used to process certain selectable regions at one time and other selectable regions at other times.

In the prototype, each state machine processes events independently of all other state machines, though a state machine may send an event to another state machine. For example, when the operator selects a selectable region, the associated state machine sends the event EV₋₋ RESET to all other state machines so that all selectable regions revert to their respective initial colors.

A single operator action may result in the issuance of different events to different state machines. For example, when the operator moves the cursor from without a selectable region to within it, EV₋₋ DWELL is sent to the newly indicated state machine. EV₋₋ MOVEMENT is sent to all other state machines.

Following is a general description of each event used in the prototype and an example of the use of each event. For all uses of each event, refer to the state table shown in FIGS. 29 and 30 which determines what state transition occurs from every state on occurrence of a given event.

The event EV₋₋ RESET is an internal event which drives a state machine to its initial state. For example, when the operator has not moved the pointer (2202) for a predetermined period of time, event EV₋₋ RESET is sent to all other selectable regions.

The event EV₋₋ DECAY is an external event which indicates that the cursor hotspot does not intersect the selectable region associated with the state machine. EV₋₋ DECAY is sent to a state machine periodically when the operator has positioned the cursor hotspot on a selectable region other than the selectable region associated with that state machine.

The event EV₋₋ DWELL is an external event which indicates that the cursor hotspot intersects the selectable region associated with the state machine. EV₋₋ DWELL is sent to a state machine periodically when the operator has positioned the cursor hotspot on the associated selectable region.

The event EV₋₋ CROSS₋₋ OUT is an external event which indicates that the cursor hotspot has moved from a location intersecting the selectable region associated with the state machine to a location not intersecting the selectable region. After the operator selects a selectable region, he must move the cursor hotspot out of the selectable region, generating EV₋₋ CROSS₋₋ OUT, before he can again select that selectable region.

The event EV₋₋ STEP₋₋ UP is an internal event which indicates that a selectable region's selection threshold has been satisfied.

The event EV₋₋ MOVEMENT is an external event which indicates that the cursor hotspot has moved. If the cursor hotspot intersects a selectable region without moving for a predetermined period of time, a timeout occurs, causing all state machines to transition to the reset state. EV₋₋ MOVEMENT drives the state machine out of the reset state.

The event EV₋₋ IDLE₋₋ TIMEOUT is an external event which indicates that the cursor hotspot has intersected a selectable region without moving for a predetermined period of time. EV₋₋ IDLE₋₋ TIMEOUT causes the state machine to move the cursor hotspot to the center of the display.

The event EV₋₋ CEILING is an external event which indicates that the cursor hotspot intersects a selectable region and the color of the selectable region equals the selectable region color ceiling. If the locking feature is enabled, EV₋₋ CEILING drives the state machine to the begin lock state where it displays the lock icon.

The null event, EV₋₋ NULL, is a multi-purpose internal event used in a variety of situations to drive a state machine to another state. For example, after a timeout has been detected, EV₋₋ IDLE₋₋ TIMEOUT is generated and sent to the appropriate state machine driving it to the idle state, the receiving state machine sends itself EV₋₋ NULL in order to drive itself to the reset state. The use of EV₋₋ NULL here allows states to be simpler and the reset state to be reused.

The prototype uses eight partially delimited selectable regions. In the description below, the portion of each selectable region shown on the display is referred to as the visible subregion of the selectable region. The portion of each selectable region outside the display is referred to as the invisible subregion of the selectable region. Because the software driver (1202) confines the cursor hotspot to the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle, a rectangle on the display slightly smaller in area than the display, the access program (1206) of the prototype only reads hotspot cursor locations within the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle, even though the operator may in fact be pointing to a location outside the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle, e.g. within an invisible subregion. Thus the access program (1206) does not distinguish between two locations indicated by the operator, the first at a first location on the edge of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle and the second outside the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle whose location is reported by the software driver (1202) to be the first location. For example, assuming that the operator moves the location indicated by the pointer (2202) to a location within invisible subregion (0104 in FIG. 17), the software driver (1202) in the prototype reports the cursor hotspot location to be the closest point within the visible subregion (0106). Consequently, in the prototype, all invisible subregions are unbounded on their side furthest from and parallel to the edge of the display. Thus, in the prototype, point (0162) in FIG. 17 lies within selectable region (0128/0130) since the rightmost side of selectable region (0128/0130) is unbounded.

The operation of the prototype will now be described using, as an example, the selection of a menu option associated with selectable region (0104/0106). First described are notation conventions used in the description, then initialization in the prototype, and then the example. The description refers to the procedures PocketFsm and CreateEvent. These procedures are listed in pseudo-code in Appendix I.

Notational conventions used in the description below:

1. pPocket-> indicates a set of data associated with a particular state machine, in this example, the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106).

2. pPocket->State indicates a particular item of data within the set of data associated with the state machine, in this case, the variable "State".

During initialization:

1. The Windows® cursor clipping rectangle is set so that most of the arrow cursor is always visible on the display.

2. The cursor, indicating on the display (2112) the location indicated by the movement related signal receiving means, is positioned at the center of the display.

3. All data associated with each state machine are initialized. The following variables are included in the set of data associated with each state machine. There are as many independent copies of these variables as there are state machines. For each state machine the following variables are initialized as indicated.

    ______________________________________                                         variable  initial value meaning                                                ______________________________________                                         fInvert   FALSE         If TRUE, display the color                                                     complementary to that                                                          indicated by this selectable                                                   region's Color variable                                State     ST.sub.-- INITIAL                                                                            state of the state machine                             PreviousState                                                                            0             previous state of the state                                                    machine                                                Color     0             RGB encoding of visible                                                        subregion color                                        fPaint    FALSE         if TRUE, paint visible                                                         subregion on receipt of                                                        WM.sub.-- PAINT message                                InitialColor                                                                             RGB (0,32,0)  initial value corresponds to a                                                 dark green                                             pLabel    initial menu option                                                                          indicates an element within                                      for the state machine's                                                                      the aLabel array, described                                      selectable region                                                                            below                                                  Decrement RGB (0,1,0)   value subtracted from Color                                                    on EV.sub.-- DECAY                                     Increment RGB (0,4,0)   value added to Color on                                                        EV.sub.-- DWELL                                        Ceiling   RGB (0,255,0) initial value corresponds to                                                   a very light, bright green                             CrestTide RGB (0,143,0) initial value corresponds to a                                                 light green                                            Lockspot.x                                                                               a point within the                                                                           x coordinate of location for                                     selectable region                                                                            the display of the lock icon                                     located two thirds of                                                          the length of the                                                              selectable region from                                                         the closest corner of                                                          the display                                                          Lockspot.y                                                                               a point within the                                                                           y coordinate of location for                                     selectable region                                                                            the display of the lock icon                                     located two thirds of                                                          the length of the                                                              selectable region from                                                         the closest corner of                                                          the display                                                          fInterior TRUE for interior                                                                            If TRUE, this is an interior                                     regions, otherwise                                                                           region of adjacent regions                                       FALSE; used for                                                                the Intersection                                                               aspect of the invention                                              iAdjacentPocket                                                                          index of state machine                                                         associated with the                                                            adjacent region; used                                                          for the Intersection                                                           aspect of the invention                                              first array of                                                                           boundaries of the                                                    points    visible subregion                                                    second array of                                                                          boundaries of the                                                    points    region; used for the                                                           Intersection aspect of                                                         the invention                                                        hRegion   handle to Windows ®                                                        region corresponding                                                           to the visible                                                                 subregion; used for the                                                        Intersection aspect of                                                         the invention                                                        ______________________________________                                    

4. aLabel, an array of data structures defining the menu and submenu options and the menu hierarchy, is initialized. For example, one of the elements of aLabel defines menu option "vort<space>x". This element includes fields which determine that this menu option is displayed horizontally starting at certain (x,y) coordinates, that on selection certain actions are to be taken, for example, outputting text to a speech synthesizer, and that on selection certain submenu options, in this example, "v", "o", "r", "t", "<space>" and "x", and related data are to be associated with certain state machines. In the prototype, this association is accomplished by modifying pLabel in the set of data of the associated state machine to point to the aLabel element corresponding to the menu option to be associated with that state machine.

5. At least one window is created in the circumscribed region (0150) for the display of selected letters.

6. The state table is initialized to the values shown in FIGS. 29 and 30.

7. EV₋₋ RESET is sent to each state machine by a procedure call of the form PocketFsm (pPocket, EV₋₋ RESET). As an example, assume pPocket indicates the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106). Proceeding through the pseudo-code for the procedure PocketFsm listed in Appendix I, fInternalEvent is set to TRUE and consequently control passes into the while loop. fInternalEvent is now set to FALSE. The current state, pPocket->State, is stored in pPocket->PreviousState. Now a state transition is made. The current state, ST₋₋ INITIAL, having a value of 2, and the current event, EV₋₋ RESET, having a value of 1, are used as row and column indices respectively into the state table aPocketFsm shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, to determine the value of the new state of the state machine, in this example, the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106). aPocketFsm[2][1] equals 3. Thus the new state of the state machine is 3, the value of ST₋₋ RESET. Control passes, via the switch statement, to the ST₋₋ RESET case and ST₋₋ RESET state processing is performed. The time of selectable region selection is set to the current time, the state machine's fInvert flag is set to FALSE and the value of the state machine's color variable, pPocket->Color, is compared to the state machine's initial color, pPocket->InitialColor. pPocket->Color was initialized to zero, which is not the value of pPocket->InitialColor. Consequently, pPocket->Color is set to pPocket->InitialColor and the flag pPocket->fPaint is set to TRUE. Upon reaching the break statement, control passes through the bottom of the switch statement and the value of pPocket->fPaint is tested. Since it is TRUE, the client area rectangle is invalidated. In the prototype, Windows® (1204) responds to invalidating the client rectangle by sending the access program (1206) a WM₋₋ PAINT message. On receipt of a WM₋₋ PAINT message, the access program (1206) redraws all selectable regions and any menu option located thereon for each state machines having pPocket->fPaint equal to TRUE. Thus, somewhat indirectly, visible subregion (0106) is drawn on the display (2112). Then control returns to Windows® (1204). The other seven state machines, each associated respectively with a selectable region, are similarly initialized so that each state machine transitions from ST₋₋ INITIAL to ST₋₋ RESET and draws its respective visible subregion and any menu option located thereon on the display (2112). The display shown in FIG. 17 now appears on the display (2112) of the computer system (2116).

8. A periodic timer, called the cursor polling timer, is set. This timer provides the access program (1206) with a WM₋₋ TIMER message at frequent intervals, in the prototype every system clock tick which occurs approximately every 54 milliseconds. Following access program (1206) initialization, most state transitions are made on expiration of the cursor polling timer. The access program (1206) calls the procedure CreateEvent to determine the appropriate event for each state machine and to complete the event data structure addressed by pEvent accordingly, then repetitively calls the procedure PocketFsm for each state machine, passing the unique indicator for the state machine and the appropriate event for that state machine. Preferably, the cursor polling timer is more frequent so that color changes to visible subregions are smaller and more frequent, giving a smoother appearance to color change.

An example of the selection of selectable region (0104/0106) in accord with the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention will now be described. Following initialization, assume that the operator now begins to move the pointer (2202). Every 54 milliseconds the cursor polling timer expires, causing Windows® (1204) to send a WM₋₋ TIMER message to the access program (1206). Following receipt of WM₋₋ TIMER, the access program (1206) calls the procedure CreateEvent. The procedure CreateEvent, among other functions, determines whether the current cursor hotspot location lies within any selectable region. In this example, the operator is moving the cursor from its initial location in the center of the display toward selectable region (0104/0106), but since only 54 milliseconds have elapsed, the cursor hotspot has moved only slightly in that direction. The procedure CreateEvent determines that the cursor hotspot does not lie within any selectable region and that the cursor hotspot has not crossed out of a selectable region in the past 54 milliseconds. Therefore, the procedure CreateEvent determines that each state machine should receive EV₋₋ MOVEMENT. The procedure PocketFsm is called with the indicator for the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) and with EV₋₋ MOVEMENT. The event EV₋₋ MOVEMENT drives this state machine from its current state, ST₋₋ RESET, to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE. The pseudo-code for ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE in procedure PocketFsm is a break statement, indicating that no state specific action is taken at this time, other than the transition to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE. Control returns to Windows® (1204).

Shortly before or shortly after the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) receives EV₋₋ MOVEMENT, all other state machines each receive EV₋₋ MOVEMENT and each makes the same transition from ST₋₋ RESET to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE.

Another 54 milliseconds elapses and again procedure PocketFsm is called, sending EV₋₋ MOVEMENT to the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) and driving state machine from ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE to ST₋₋ DECAY. Stepping through the pseudo-code for ST₋₋ DECAY, the ST₋₋ DECAY state sets pPocket->State to the value stored in pPocket->PreviousState and decrements pPocket->Color but not below the value of pPocket->InitialColor. pPocket->Color determines the color and brightness of visible subregion (0106). Decrementing pPocket->Color results in a darkening of visible subregion (0106). Resuming with the pseudo-code for ST₋₋ DECAY state processing, the ST₋₋ DECAY state sets fInternalEvent to TRUE, and, in this case, sets Event to EV₋₋ NULL. Following the break statement, the while fInternalEvent condition is true and another state transition occurs, using the value of pPocket->State which was set by ST₋₋ DECAY state processing to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE, the previous state. The new state is found at aPocketFsm[ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE][EV₋₋ NULL], which equals ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE. This state transition is unlike an ordinary state transition because the starting state is set by ST₋₋ DECAY. All transitions from ST₋₋ DECAY share this distinction. The state machine executes the code for the new state, ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE, which is simply a break statement. The procedure PocketFsm determines that fPaint is FALSE and exits. Control returns to Windows® (1204).

Shortly before or shortly after the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) receives EV₋₋ MOVEMENT, all other state machines each receive EV₋₋ MOVEMENT and each makes the same transitions from ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE to ST₋₋ DECAY to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE.

Every 54 milliseconds this scenario is repeated for each state machine until the operator moves the cursor hotspot to a point within selectable region (0104/0106). At this time the procedure CreateEvent determines that there is an active selectable region, specifically selectable region (0104/0106), and that consequently EV₋₋ DWELL should be sent to the associated state machine. The procedure PocketFsm is called with the indicator for the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) and the event EV₋₋ DWELL. EV₋₋ DWELL drives this state machine from ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE to ST₋₋ ENTRY. Following the pseudo-code for ST₋₋ ENTRY state processing shown in PocketFsm pseudo-code, fInternalEvent is set to TRUE and Event is set to EV₋₋ NULL, resulting in another state transition to aPocketFsm[ST₋₋ ENTRY][EV₋₋ NULL], which equals ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE.

The pseudo-code for ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE is only a break statement, so there is no state specific action for ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE other than entry into this state. fPaint is FALSE so the selectable region is not redrawn. Control returns to Windows® (1204).

Shortly before or shortly after the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) receives EV₋₋ DWELL, all other state machines each receive EV₋₋ MOVEMENT and each makes the same transitions from ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE to ST₋₋ DECAY to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE.

Another 54 milliseconds elapses. The procedure CreateEvent determines that the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) should receive EV₋₋ MOVEMENT, which drives it from ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE to ST₋₋ DWELL. Stepping through the pseudo-code for ST₋₋ DWELL, the ST₋₋ DWELL state sets pPocket->State to the value stored in pPocket->PreviousState, increments pPocket->Color by pPocket->Increment, but not above the value of pPocket->Ceiling, sets pPocket->fPaint to TRUE, sets fInternalEvent to TRUE, and, in this case, sets Event to EV₋₋ NULL. Following the break statement, the while fInternalEvent condition is true and another state transition occurs. The new state is found at aPocketFsm[ST₋₋ LOW TIDE][EV₋₋ NULL]), which equals ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE. This path is unlike an ordinary state transition because the starting state is set by ST₋₋ DWELL. All transitions from ST₋₋ DWELL share this distinction. The state machine executes the code for the new state, ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE, which is simply a break statement. The procedure PocketFsm determines that fPaint is TRUE, invalidates the client rectangle and exits. As a result of invalidating the client rectangle, Windows® (1204) sends a WM₋₋ PAINT message to the access program (1206). On receipt of WM₋₋ PAINT, the access program (1204) checks the value of fPaint for each state machine, and if TRUE, sets fPaint to FALSE and redraws the visible subregion of the selectable region associated with that state machine and any menu option located thereon. The color of the redrawn visible subregion is determined by the value of the Color variable for that state machine. After redrawing, control returns to Windows® (1204).

Shortly before or shortly after the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) receives EV₋₋ DWELL, all other state machines each receive EV₋₋ MOVEMENT and each makes the state transitions from ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE to ST₋₋ DECAY to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE.

Assuming the operator maintains the cursor hotspot in the selectable region (0104/0106), the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) cycles repetitively through the state transitions from ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE to ST₋₋ DWELL to ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE, driven by the cursor polling timer. With each transition to ST₋₋ DWELL, visible subregion (0106) is brightened a bit. The polling timer interval is short enough and the increment to pPocket->Color is small enough that visible subregion (0106) appears to gradually brighten although in fact it progresses rapidly through a series of discrete brightness levels. With each iteration through ST₋₋ DWELL, pPocket->Color in incremented.

Assuming that the operator maintains the cursor hotspot on selectable region (0104/0106), pPocket->Color will eventually equal or exceed pPocket->CrestTide, a variable set at initialization time and not changed thereafter. At this time, Event is set to EV₋₋ STEP₋₋ UP, driving a transition to aPocketFsm[ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE][EV₋₋ STEP₋₋ UP], which equals ST₋₋ SELECTED. The state processing for ST₋₋ SELECTED provides the operator with an audible indication that a selection has just been made, takes the action appropriate upon selection of this selectable region, including selecting the menu option associated with the selected selectable region. In this example, the access program (1206) does not generate output to another program or device at this time. ST₋₋ SELECTED next sets pPocket->fInvert to TRUE, and, if appropriate, changes the menu options associated with various selectable regions. In this example, selectable region (0104/0106) is now associated with menu option "<space>", selectable region (0108/0110) with menu option "o", selectable region (0112/0114) with menu option "t", selectable region (0124/0126) with menu option "x", selectable region (0128/0130) with menu option "v", and selectable region (0132/0134) with menu option "r". Selectable regions (0116/0118) and (0120/0122) remains associated with the same menu options with which they were associated in FIG. 17. fPaint is set to TRUE for the state machines associated with the selectable regions having changed menu options. ST₋₋ SELECTED next sets Event to EV₋₋ NULL and fInternalEvent to TRUE. The state machine now makes the transition to aPocketFsm[ST₋₋ SELECTED₋₋ TIDE][EV₋₋ NULL], which equals ST₋₋ CREST₋₋ TIDE. There is no state specific action for ST₋₋ CREST₋₋ TIDE other than entry into this state. The pseudo-code for ST₋₋ CREST₋₋ TIDE is only a break statement. Control returns to Windows® (1204).

When the access program (1206) later receives the WM₋₋ PAINT message resulting from the invalidating of the client rectangle, the setting of fInvert to TRUE causes the visible subregion (0106) to be drawn in the color complementary to the value then indicated by pPocket->Color. The setting of fPaint to TRUE for all selectable regions associated with changed menu options causes those selectable regions and the menu options thereon to be redrawn. The display shown in FIG. 18 now appears on the display (2112) of the computer system (2116).

Assuming the operator maintains the cursor hotspot in the selectable region (0104/0106), the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) cycles repetitively through the state transitions from ST₋₋ CREST₋₋ TIDE to ST₋₋ DWELL to ST₋₋ CREST₋₋ TIDE, driven by the cursor polling timer. With each transition to ST₋₋ DWELL, visible subregion (0106) is brightened a bit. though it is now magenta, the complement of green. The polling timer interval is short enough and the increment to pPocket->Color is small enough that visible subregion (0106) appears to gradually brighten although in fact it progresses rapidly through a series of discrete brightness levels. With each iteration through ST₋₋ DWELL, pPocket->Color in incremented. Assuming that the operator maintains the cursor hotspot on selectable region (0104/0106), pPocket->Color will eventually equal pPocket->Ceiling, a variable set at initialization time and not changed thereafter.

Assuming that the operator now moves the cursor so that the hotspot is located outside selectable region (0104/0106), CreateEvent generates the EV₋₋ CROSS₋₋ OUT for the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106), driving the state machine to aPocketFsm[ST₋₋ CREST₋₋ TIDE][EV₋₋ CROSS₋₋ OUT], which equals ST₋₋ SELECT₋₋ AND₋₋ OUT. The state processing for ST₋₋ SELECT₋₋ AND₋₋ OUT sends EV₋₋ RESET and then EV₋₋ MOVEMENT to all state machines, driving each of them from their current state to ST₋₋ RESET and then to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE. For each state machine, the transition ST₋₋ RESET and then to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE results in actions previously described for those states, except that, unlike before, the value of pPocket->Color for the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) does not equal the value of pPocket->InitialColor for the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106). Consequently, pPocket->Color is set to pPocket->InitialColor and fPaint is set to TRUE, subsequently causing visible subregion (0106) to be redrawn in its initial color. Control returns to Windows® (1204).

The prototype continues to sample cursor location at 54 millisecond intervals, determine the appropriate event for each state machine and send that event each state machine, causing state transitions in each state machine according to the state table shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. Assuming that the operator next selects selectable region (0108/0110), the state processing in ST₋₋ SELECTED displays the selection, the letter "o", in the circumscribed region (0150), and associates the menu options shown in FIG. 17 with their respective selectable regions. The display shown in FIG. 17 appears on the display (2112) of the computer system (2116).

B. Confinement

The preferred embodiment of the Confinement aspect of the invention will now be described in detail from a functional perspective using an example illustrated in FIG. 31. In FIG. 31, 20 selectable regions, e.g. (1704), (1708) and (1714), are depicted on display (2112). Each of the selectable regions is located on the display (2112) adjacent an edge of the display, and the selectable regions together circumscribe a region (1702) on the display. The top and left edges of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle (1750) lie on the top and left edges, respectively, of the display (2112). The bottom and right edges of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle (1750) lie on the display parallel to and slightly indented from the bottom and right edges, respectively, of the display. A confining polygon is delimited on the display. The boundary of the confining polygon, starting from the upper right corner of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle, follows the top edge of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle to the left until it reaches region (1732), where the boundary follows the side of region (1732) down, to the left, and back up to the top edge of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle. The boundary continues left along the top edge of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle until it reaches region (1734), where the boundary follows the side of region (1734) down, to the left, and back up to the top edge of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle. The boundary continues left along the top edge of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle to the upper left corner and then turns down along the left edge of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle until it reaches region (1736), where the boundary follows the side of region (1736) to the right, down, and to the left to the left edge of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle. The boundary of the confining polygon continues in this fashion around to the upper right corner of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle. The confining polygon thus includes all the area of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle except for the regions (1732), (1734), (1736), (1738), (1740), (1742), (1744), and (1746). An operator controlling a pointer indicating successive locations with respect to the display and attempting to select a target selectable region may overshoot the target so that some of the successive locations lie outside the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle. In the preferred embodiment of the Confinement aspect of the invention, the cursor (1724) is confined to the confining polygon. The preferred embodiment is responsive to an intersection of the cursor hotspot and any one selectable region so that an overshot selectable region may be selected by click or by dwell without moving the location presently indicated by the pointer to a location in the overshot selectable region. Thus, the preferred embodiment of the Confinement aspect of the invention allows an operator with impaired ability to stop motion to maintain the cursor more easily on a selectable region, and so select the intended selectable region, than do conventional user interface systems.

A selectable region having a single side abutting a confining polygon prevents cursor movement only beyond the abutting side. However. NMD operators who drift may drift in more than one direction. Assume that a certain NMD operator tends to drift both up and to the left and that he is attempting to select selectable region (1704). If he moves the cursor into that selectable region his upward drift will be confined: the drift will not move the cursor beyond the confining polygon. However, the cursor will move to the left, since, in the preferred embodiment of the Confinement aspect of the invention, movement in this direction is not affected by the confining polygon, and consequently the cursor may move into selectable region (1708), the selectable region to the left of selectable region (1704). NMD operators having this type of drift may be assisted in selecting by confining corners. For example, such an operator, attempting to select selectable region (1704) could move the cursor to location (1706) in selectable region (1704). As the operator drifts to the left, he can compensate by moving the pointer to the right. Assuming the operator lacks fine motor control, he may overcompensate and indicate a location to the right of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle (1750). However, since the cursor is confined to the confining polygon, the cursor remains in the intended selectable region.

Confining corners facilitate the selection process for some NMD operators. The preferred embodiment of the Confinement aspect of the invention creates a corner or virtual corner in each selectable region. A virtual corner is a corner of a selectable region formed by the intersection of two sides of a selectable region both of which abut a confining polygon. For example, corner (1710) in selectable region (1708) abuts the confining polygon both along the top edge of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle and along the right side of region (1732). If an NMD operator drifts from selectable region (1708) to the left into region (1732), the cursor remains in selectable region (1708). Thus, drift to the left does not move the cursor out of selectable region (1732). An operator trying to select selectable region (1708) may overcompensate for drift to the right by moving the pointer to indicate a location in region (1732).

FIG. 32 illustrates a display in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the Confinement aspect of the invention. FIG. 32 depicts 16 selectable regions, e.g. selectable region (0602), on a display (2112), the selectable regions together at least partially circumscribing region (0660) on the display. Circumscribed region (0660) intersects four selectable regions, (0604), (0608), (0610), and (0612). Selectable region (0608) includes virtual corner (0652). The confining polygon includes all the area of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle except for regions (0632), (0634), (0636), (0638), (0640), (0642), (0644), and (0646).

FIG. 33 illustrates a display and structures in accordance with an another embodiment of the Confinement aspect of the invention. FIG. 33 depicts 20 selectable regions, e.g. selectable region (0918), on a display (2112), the selectable regions together at least partially circumscribing region (0902) on the display. The confining polygon includes all the area of the Windows® cursor clipping rectangle except for regions (0906), (0908), (0910), and (0904).

The preferred embodiment of the Confinement aspect of the invention will now be described in detail from an implementation perspective. Preferably, the Confinement aspect is implemented by modifications to the access program (1206) described in the detailed description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention. The modifications required are: (1) define 20 state machines and 20 respectively associated selectable regions located as shown in FIG. 31; (2) at initialization time, create a Windows® region corresponding to the confining polygon described above in the functional description of the preferred embodiment of the Confinement aspect of the invention; and (3) modify the procedure CreateEvent so that before generating an EV₋₋ CROSS₋₋ OUT event, CreateEvent determines whether the current hotspot cursor location intersects the confining polygon, and, if not, set the Windows® hotspot cursor location to the previous hotspot cursor location and transfers control to the code at the beginning of the CreateEvent procedure which gets the current cursor hotspot location from Windows®. If the current hotspot cursor location intersects the confining polygon, CreateEvent takes the same action as in the access program (1206).

C. Dwell

The preferred embodiment of the Dwell aspect of the invention will now be described in detail from a functional and implementation perspective. The prototype implements dynamic dwell. The effect of dwelling on a selectable region and its implementation have been described in the detailed description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention. Now the effect and implementation of moving the cursor hotspot off a selectable region will be described.

Referring now to FIG. 17, assuming that the state machine associated with the selectable region (0104/0106) is in state ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE, that pPocket->Color has been incremented above its initial value, that the cursor hotspot intersected selectable region (0104/0106) at the last expiration of the cursor polling timer, and that the operator initiates movement of the cursor hotspot to the right from selectable region (0104/0106) toward selectable region (0132/0134) so that, when the cursor polling timer next expires, the cursor hotspot is located in area (0150) between visible subregions (0106) and (0134), the procedure CreateEvent determines that the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) should receive EV₋₋ CROSS₋₋ OUT, which drives it from ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE to ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE. The state processing for ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE has already been described in the detailed description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention.

Assuming that the operator continues to move the cursor hotspot toward selectable region (0132/0134), on the next expiration of the cursor polling timer, the procedure CreateEvent determines that the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) should receive EV₋₋ MOVEMENT, which drives it from ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE to ST₋₋ DECAY. Stepping through the pseudo-code for ST₋₋ DECAY, the ST₋₋ DECAY state sets pPocket->State to the value stored in pPocket->PreviousState, decrements pPocket->Color by pPocket->Decrement, but not below the value of pPocket->InitialColor, sets pPocket->fPaint to TRUE, sets fInternalEvent to TRUE, and, in this case, sets Event to EV₋₋ NULL. Following the break statement, the while fInternalEvent condition is true and another state transition occurs. The new state is found at aPocketFsm[ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE][EV₋₋ NULL], which equals ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE. This path is unlike an ordinary state transition because the starting state is set by ST₋₋ DECAY. All transitions from ST₋₋ DECAY share this distinction. The state machine executes the code for the new state, ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE, which is simply a break statement. The procedure PocketFsm determines that fPaint is TRUE, invalidates the client rectangle and exits. As a result of invalidating the client rectangle, Windows® (1204) sends a WM₋₋ PAINT message to the access program.(1206). On receipt of WM₋₋ PAINT, the access program (1204) checks the value of fPaint for each state machine, and if TRUE, sets fPaint to FALSE and redraws the visible subregion of the selectable region associated with that state machine and any menu option located thereon. The color of the redrawn visible subregion is determined by the value of the Color variable for that state machine. After redrawing, control returns to Windows® (1204).

If the movement of the cursor hotspot pause between successive samplings of its location, the procedure Create Event will determine that not EV₋₋ MOVEMENT, but EV₋₋ DECAY, should be sent to the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106). Like EV₋₋ DECAY, EV₋₋ MOVEMENT drives the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) to ST₋₋ DECAY. The same state processing as described above for ST₋₋ DECAY takes place, including the transition back to ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE.

Assuming the operator maintains the cursor hotspot in area (0150), the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) cycles repetitively through the state transitions from ST₋₋ LOW TIDE to ST₋₋ DECAY to ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE, driven by the cursor polling timer. With each transition to ST₋₋ DECAY, visible subregion (0106) is darkened a bit. The polling timer interval is short enough and the decrement to pPocket->Color is small enough that visible subregion (0106) appears to gradually darken although in fact it progresses rapidly through a series of discrete brightness levels. With each iteration through ST₋₋ DECAY, pPocket->Color in decremented until pPocket->Color reaches pPocket->InitialColor.

When the cursor hotspot reaches selectable region (0132/0134), the procedure CreateEvent determines that the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) should receive EV₋₋ DECAY, continuing the repetitively cycling through from ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE to ST₋₋ DECAY to ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE, driven by the cursor polling timer. Driven by the same polling timer, the procedure CreateEvent determines that the state machine associated with selectable region (0132/0134) should receive EV₋₋ DWELL, driving this state machine through the state transitions described in the detailed description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention.

If the operator moves the cursor hotspot from selectable region (0132/0134) back to selectable region (0104/0106), the procedure CreateEvent determines that the state machine associated with selectable region (0104/0106) should receive EV₋₋ DWELL, driving this state machine through the state transitions described in the detailed description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention.

In the prototype, the selectable regions are shown on a display (2112). Alternatively, the selectable regions may appear on a static display, or they may be projected on a surface.

In the prototype, the brightness of a visible subregion at any time indicates the progress of the selection of the selectable region including the visible subregion. A brightness close to the initial brightness indicates that a relatively long period of dwelling on this selectable region is required for selection. A brightness close to the brightness just prior to selection indicates that relatively short period of dwelling on this selectable region is required for selection. However, means for indicating an intersection of the location indicated by the movement related signal and a selectable region, or the duration of a period of such an intersection includes, but is not limited to, a change in cursor appearance or location, a change in location, size, shape, hue, brightness, contrast, tone, dithering, pattern, hatching, font or fill of an object on the surface, a display of or change in a graphic on the surface or the removal of a graphic from the surface, a generation of a sound or a change in the pitch or volume of an extant sound, a change in the temperature or surface of a contact area, the pressure exerted by a contact area, or frequency of contact by a contact area, or other suitable means. Any of these indications may be continuous or frequent.

Although dwell is implemented in the prototype using a data value, specifically pPocket->Color, it may be implemented using a signal, for example, voltage or current, varying in response to the intersection and subsequent non-intersection of a location indicated by a pointer and a selectable region. For example, a selectable region may include a detector and coupled electronics or electrical circuitry operative to increase the voltage level of a capacitor. Once elevated, the voltage level may decrease over time. Upon reaching a predetermined threshold, the voltage level may trigger selection.

The prototype allows an operator to make selections by dwell more efficiently than in conventional systems. In the prototype, the brightness of a visible subregion indicates the dwell time required for selection. A practiced operator may accurately estimate when he may plan his next pointer movement, when he may begin moving the pointer and may determine when a bit more exertion will select a selectable region and when it will not. Thus a disabled operator who is fatigued by computer access and can maintain a pointer in a steady position for only brief periods, may optimize his energy expenditure, for example, exerting himself to maintain the cursor on a certain selectable region only when doing so will quickly select the selectable region.

The prototype may increase the independence of a disable individual by allowing him to control devices such as a TV, thermostat and other household appliances. As stated earlier, the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention may be implemented on a general purpose computer system. If the general purpose computer system is coupled to a devices capable of executing commands and the menu hierarchy allows the selection of commands, a disabled operator may select and issue commands to control these devices.

FIG. 34 illustrates a display in accordance with of an embodiment of the Dwell aspect of the invention having 20 selectable regions (3101), (3103), (3105), (3107), (3109), (3111), (3115), (3117), (3119), (3121), (3125), (3127), (3129), (3131), (3133), (3135), (3139), (3141), (3143), and (3145) circumscribing a surface (3151) having an indicating region (3147) thereon.

FIG. 35 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with of an embodiment of the Dwell aspect of the invention having 20 selectable regions circumscribing a surface, each selectable region associated respectively with an indicating region adjacent its associated selectable region. Selectable region (3101) is associated with indicating region (3201), selectable region (3103) with indicating region (3203), etc.

FIG. 36 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with of an embodiment of the Dwell aspect of the invention having 20 detectors circumscribing an aperture (3350), each detector associated respectively with an indicator intersecting its associated detector, e.g. detector (3301) is associated with indicator (3303).

FIG. 37 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with of an embodiment of the Dwell aspect of the invention having 24 selectable regions arranged in a grid of four rows and six columns, each selectable region associated respectively with an indicating region intersecting its associated selectable region. For example, selectable region (3402) is associated with indicating region (3401).

FIG. 38 illustrates a display in accordance with of an embodiment of the Dwell aspect of the invention having a plurality of detectors, (2501), (2503), (2505), etc., arranged in a grid. Each detector is associated respectively with an indicator intersecting its associated detector., e.g. detector (2501) is associated with indicator (2502). Each detector is also associated respectively with an order entry item which may be selected by dwell. For example, detector (2501) is associated with a hamburger. Pointer (2512) (not drawn to scale) emits energy detectable by the detectors. Pointer (2512) may be housed in stationary housing (2514) (not drawn to scale).

Means for determining the difference between two data items or signals and means for totaling two or more data items or signals may each include a processing unit programmed to calculate this difference or total. Alternatively, the difference or total may be determined by electronic, mechanical, optical, or other suitable means.

The two step procedure described earlier for operating conventional menu-driven data entry and order entry systems incorporating pointing at intended selections may be simplified to a single step in accordance with the Dwell aspect of the invention. Referring now to FIG. 38, the operator points pointer (2512) at an order entry item. The item brightens responsive to the signals failing on the associated detector, indicating to the operator which order entry item he is dwelling on and his dwell time on that order entry item. When his dwell time equals or exceeds the selection threshold, the order entry item is selected. The operation of such a system is intuitive and may be learned or relearned by pointing and dwelling. No surface is required, unlike a standard mouse. Additionaly, an operator seated in the driver's seat of a vehicle is probably right-handed and may be making selections with his left hand, the hand closest to the window in a left-hand drive vehicle. Pointing and maintaining a pointer in a steady position requires less coordination than pointing and clicking.

D. Path Directness

The Path Directness aspect of the invention includes several aspects, hereinafter "subaspects", called Facilitated Dwell, Direction and Intersection, Direction, Appraisal and Drift Attenuation. The preferred embodiment and certain alternative embodiments of each of these subaspects will now be described.

According to the Facilitated Dwell subaspect of the invention, the duration of the dwell period required for selection ("selection threshold period") of a menu option associated with a selectable region varies with the directness of the cursoes path to that selectable region. The preferred embodiment of the Facilitated Dwell subaspect of the invention will now be described in detail from a functional perspective using an example illustrated in FIG. 39. In FIG. 39 on display (2112) are defined corridors (2302), (2304), (2306), (2308), (2310), (2312) and (2314) lying between the previously selected selectable region (2318) and, respectively, selectable regions (2342), (2344), (2346), (2348), (2350), (2352) and (2354). Each selectable region is associated respectively with a selection threshold period. Each cursor location in a cursor path, for example cursor path (2322), may slightly decrease one or more the selection threshold periods, except for the selection threshold period associated with the previously selected selectable region, selectable region (2318) in this example. The effect of a cursor location depends, in the preferred embodiment, on whether that cursor location intersects one of the corridors. If it does, as for example location (2324) intersects corridor (2308), then the selection threshold period associated with the selectable region to which the intersected corridor leads, (2348) in this example, is decreased, preferably to a limit of approximately 20% of the initial value of the selection threshold period so that some period of intersection of the cursor and the intended selectable region is still required for selection. A changed selection threshold period is preferably indicated by a change in the brightness of the selectable region associated with the changed selection threshold period. Thus, when the operator moves the cursor within a corridor, the selectable region associated with the corridor brightens, indicating both the target selectable region the system believes the cursor is headed toward and the changed selection threshold period. When the operator moves the cursor outside a corridor the cursor had previously intersected, the selectable region associated with the previously intersected corridor darkens in accord with the dynamic dwell aspect of the invention, indicating both that the system no longer believes the cursor is headed toward that selectable region and the changed selection threshold period. Reducing the selection threshold period facilitates selection of dwell-selectable regions without unduly increasing the likelihood of erroneous selections, since cursor locations within a corridor evidence the operator's intention to select the selectable region associated with the corridor.

Preferably, corridors are hidden from view, but they may be may be shown on the display or shown only at certain times or under certain conditions. Corridors may have fixed boundaries, depending on which selectable region has been selected, or their boundaries may be determined when a starting location, for example, cursor location (2316) in FIG. 39, is known. Corridor shape, size, number and position about the associated selectable region may vary, as illustrated by the alterative embodiments shown in FIGS. 40 and 41. Where corridors overlap, a cursor location intersecting two or more corridors may be defined to be in a cursor path toward zero, one or more selectable regions associated with the intersected corridors.

The intersection of a cursor location and a corridor is but one means of identifying which one of a plurality of selectable regions is most nearly along a cursor path. A cursor path may be indicated by an intersection of a cursor location and a predetermined region, e.g. a corridor, by a cursor location and a movement related signal from which may be derived a second location, or by two or more successive cursor locations. As used herein, successive locations include a plurality of locations distributed in time. Successive location may be, but need not be, consecutive. Given a location and a movement related signal or two locations, an intention to select a particular selectable region may be inferred, for example, by extrapolation, and the selection thresholds associated with either or both the intended or unintended selectable regions modified accordingly. As an example, assume successive cursor locations are periodically stored in a ring buffer and the magnitude of the angle between two line segments, the first between the oldest cursor location in the ring buffer and a predetermined point in the selectable region, and the second between the oldest cursor location in the ring buffer and the current cursor location, is determined. The selectable region associated with the smallest of these angles may be considered to be the selectable region most nearly along the cursor path indicated by the first line segment.

An alternative means of identifying which one of a plurality of selectable region is most nearly along a cursor path is to determine the ratio of the number cursor locations indicating a selectable region to the total cursor locations in the cursor path.

FIG. 42 illustrates still another alternative means for identifying which one of a plurality of selectable regions is most nearly along a cursor path. FIG. 42 shows line (2410) from starting cursor location (2406) to ending cursor location (2408)just within selectable region (2404). Line (2410) is the most direct path between these two points. In this example, the actual path traveled by the cursor between these two points is path (2412). The ending cursor location (2408) is known before the selection threshold period associated with selectable region (2404) is modified. Identification may be made by measuring or approximating the area within region (2414) bounded by line (2410) and cursor path (2412). The smaller the area, the more direct the cursor path. Alternatively, identification may be made by storing a sampling among successive cursor locations along a cursor path and, in response to the cursor intersecting a selectable region, the selectable region most nearly along the cursor path may be identified at one or more sampled points along the cursor path. The identification may be based upon a plurality of cursor locations or upon a single cursor location and a movement related signal. Alternatively, identification may be made by measuring and comparing the number of times a cursor path diverges from a predetermined path toward the intersected selectable region and/or the degree of divergence of a cursor path from a predetermined path toward the intersected selectable region.

Another apparatus in accord with the Path Directness aspect of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 34. In this Figure, selectable regions (3101), (3103), (3105), (3107), (3109), (3111), (3115), (3117), (3119), (3121), (3125), (3127), (3129), (3131), (3133), (3135), (3139), (3141), (3143) and (3145) circumscribe area (3151). Area (3151) and optionally the selectable regions include detectors for sensing radiant energy emitted from a pointer (2202) coupled to a body member of the operator. A computer coupled to the detectors determines which selectable region is most nearly along the path indicated by the body member of the operator. Responsive to the indicated path, the embodiment may facilitate the selection of one of the selectable regions by reducing a selection threshold, may select a selectable region upon intersection of the point indicated by the pointer (2202) and a selectable region, or may select a particular selectable region in advance of intersection of the point indicated by the pointer (2202) and the particular selectable region.

A move direction of a body member of an operator may be determined in any way that a cursor path may be determined, including sampling among data indicative of position of the body member. In determining move direction of a body member, data indicative of body member positions may serve the same function as cursor locations in indicating a path toward a selectable region. Position indicating means, used, for example, in indicating a position of the body member, includes each of the means for indicating that a selection event has occurred.

As an alternative to decreasing a selection threshold period, an embodiment may include a plurality of selection thresholds, each associated respectively with a selectable region. One or more of the selection thresholds may be increased when the direction of cursor movement does not indicate a path toward the associated selectable region.

Means for indicating which one of the plurality of selectable regions is most nearly along the cursor path includes each of the means for indicating an intersection of the location indicated by the movement related signal and a selectable region.

According to the Direction and Intersection subaspect of the invention, the selection threshold period is completely satisfied in response to a cursor path to a particular selectable region, so that when the cursor intersects the particular selectable region, that region is selected. Preferably, the selection threshold period is completely satisfied in response to a measure of directness of a cursor path to a particular selectable region equalling or exceeding a predetermined measure of directness. In circumstances where the measured directness is less than the predetermined measure, a dwell period is required for selection of the particular selectable region.

According to the Direction subaspect of the invention, a selectable region is selected in response to a cursor path to that selectable region, in advance of an intersection of the cursor and that selectable region. Preferably, the selectable region is selected in response to a measure of directness of a cursor path to a particular selectable region equalling or exceeding a predetermined measure of directness. In circumstances where the measured directness is less than the predetermined measure, a dwell period is required for selection of the particular selectable region.

According to the Appraisal subaspect of the invention, the directness of a cursor path to a selectable region is measured. Preferably, the means for measuring the directness of a cursor path includes each of the means for identifying which one of a plurality of selectable regions is most nearly along a cursor path. Thus, the particular means for identifying which one of a plurality of selectable regions is most nearly along a cursor path which best correlates with an operator's intended target selectable region may be identified.

As earlier described, some NMD operators have relatively unimpaired directional control, despite having other movement disorders. The Facilitated Dwell, Direction and Intersection, and Direction subaspects of the Path Directness aspect of the invention utilize that capability for computer access. Specifically, the ability of an operator to move a cursor in a direct path toward a selectable region is used to facilitate selection of that selectable region. The selectable region is selected more quickly than in conventional systems utilizing selection by dwell, increasing operator productivity. In addition, when selectable regions are located in accordance with the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention, a cursor path toward a selectable region is often unambiguous, since usually there is only one selectable region along a cursor path, and a large rectangular area on the display is available for the output of an application program and is not obstructed by the menu. In certain embodiments in accordance with the Facilitated Dwell, Direction and Intersection, and Direction subaspects of the Path Directness aspect of the invention, the operator may receive an indication of which selectable region the system believes the operator is moving the cursor toward. The operator may adjust the cursor path in response to this feedback and thus move the pointer more accurately. Additionally, in embodiments in accordance with both the Facilitated Dwell subaspect of the Path Directness aspect of the invention and the Dwell aspect of the invention, the operator may receive an indication of the dwell time required to select the selectable region most nearly along the cursor path as the required dwell time changes in response to the cursor path.

The preferred embodiment of the Drift Attenuation subaspect of the invention will now be described in detail from a functional perspective using an example illustrated in FIG. 43. FIG. 43 depicts the upper right corner of a display (2112) having two selectable regions (0434) and (0430) thereon. Assuming, for purposes of this example, that a movement related signal indicates the path shown from point (0402) to point (0404) ("first segment") at a relatively high velocity and from point (0404) to point (0408) ("second segment") at a relatively low velocity. The path of the first segment is relatively direct, the path of the second segment, relatively meandering. During receipt of the movement related signal for the first segment, the cursor preferably tracks the exact path indicated by the movement related signal. During receipt of the movement related signal for the second segment, the movement of the cursor is attenuated, preferably so that the cursor does not leave selectable region (0434) until it is selected.

Many NMD operators are unable to cleanly stop movement of a body member, resulting in a relatively slow or meandering path being indicated by the movement related signal. According to the Drift Attenuation subaspect of the invention, drift, that is, unintentional movement indicated by the movement related signal following intentional movement is distinguished from the intentional movement, and cursor movement responsive to the drift is attenuated relative to cursor movement responsive to intentional movement. Thus unintentional movements of NMD operators are filtered so that the cursor is displayed closer to the location intended by the operator and drifting of the cursor into a nearby, but unintended, selectable region, is avoided, resulting in fewer errors due to unintended selections.

The preferred embodiment of each subaspect of the Path Directness aspect of the invention will now be described in detail from an implementation perspective. Preferably, the Facilitated Dwell subaspect is implemented by modifications to the access program (1206) described in the detailed description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention. The modifications required are: (1) Additional state processing should be added to ST₋₋ SELECTED to create a Windows® region in the shape of a corridor starting a predetermined distance from the selected selectable region to each of the other selectable regions; (2) The event data structure should be expanded to accommodate an event for a selectable region along a cursor path; (3) The procedure CreateEvent should be changed so that, before setting an event to EV₋₋ DECAY or EV₋₋ MOVEMENT, a test is made for the intersection of the cursor hotspot and each corridor, and, on finding such an intersection, a new event, EV₋₋ CORRIDOR, is stored in the event data structure indicated by pEvent for the selectable region associated with the intersected corridor; (4) A column should be added to the state table so that each state which in the prototype may receive either EV₋₋ MOVEMENT or EV₋₋ DECAY will on receipt of EV₋₋ CORRIDOR drive that state machine to ST₋₋ CORRIDOR; (5) An additional variable, Corridorlncrement, preferably having an initial value one half the value of Increment, should be added the set of data associated with each state machine; and (6) A new state, ST₋₋ CORRIDOR, should be added to the procedure PocketFsm. The pseudo-code for state processing in ST₋₋ CORRIDOR follows:

    ______________________________________                                         case ST.sub.-- CORRIDOR:                                                                     /* set state to previous state */                                              /* in preparation for the next */                                              /* state transition       */                                              set pPocket->State to pPocket->PreviousState                                   increment pPocket->Color by                                                    pPocket->CorridorIncrement, but not above                                      pPocket->InitialColor plus 80% of the                                          difference between pPocket->CrestTide and                                      pPocket->InitialColor                                                          if pPocket->Color was changed                                                    set pPocket->fPaint to TRUE                                                  set fInternalEvent to TRUE                                                     set Event to EV.sub.-- NULL                                                    break                                                                 ______________________________________                                    

An example of the selection of selectable region (2346) in accord with the preferred embodiment of the Facilitated Dwell subaspect of the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 39, assuming that the prototype has been modified as described, that the operator has just selected selectable region (2318), that all state machines are in state ST₋₋ RESET, and that the operator moves the cursor hotspot from a location inside selectable region (2318) to location (2316), a location just outside selectable region (2318). On receipt of the next WM₋₋ TIMER message, procedure PocketFsm is called with the indicator for the state machine associated with selectable region (2318) and with event EV₋₋ CROSS₋₋ OUT. Event EV₋₋ CROSS₋₋ OUT drives this state machine from its current state, ST₋₋ RESET, to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE. The pseudo-code for ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE in procedure PocketFsm is a break statement, indicating that no state specific action is taken at this time, other than the transition to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE. Control returns to Windows® (1204).

Shortly before or shortly after the state machine associated with selectable region (2318) receives EV₋₋ CROSS₋₋ OUT all other state machines each receive EV₋₋ MOVEMENT and each makes the transition from ST₋₋ RESET to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE.

Assume that the operator moves the cursor hotspot along path (2322) toward location (2332), a location outside all corridors, and then the next WM₋₋ TIMER message is received. All state machines receive EV₋₋ MOVEMENT and are driven from ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE to ST₋₋ DECAY to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE . The state processing associated with these states has been described in the description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention.

Assuming that the operator moves the cursor hotspot along path (2322), the transition from ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE to ST₋₋ DECAY to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE is repeated every 54 milliseconds for each state machine until the operator moves the cursor hotspot beyond location (2332). At this time the procedure CreateEvent determines that the cursor hotspot intersects corridor (2308) and that consequently EV₋₋ CORRIDOR should be sent to the state machine associated with selectable region (2348). EV₋₋ CORRIDOR drives this state machine from ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE to ST₋₋ CORRIDOR. Stepping through the pseudo-code for ST₋₋ CORRIDOR, the ST₋₋ CORRIDOR state sets pPocket->State to the value stored in pPocket->PreviousState, increments pPocket->Color by pPocket->CorridorIncrement, but not above pPocket->InitialColor plus 80% of the difference between pPocket->CrestTide and pPocket->InitialColor, sets pPocket->fPaint to TRUE, sets fInternalEvent to TRUE, and sets Event to EV₋₋ NULL. Following the break statement, the while fInternalEvent condition is true and another state transition occurs. The new state is found at aPocketFsm[ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE][EV₋₋ NULL], which equals ST₋₋ EB₋₋ TIDE. This path is unlike an ordinary state transition because the starting state is set by ST₋₋ CORRIDOR. All transitions from ST₋₋ CORRIDOR share this distinction. The state machine executes the code for the new state, ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE, which is simply a break statement. The procedure PocketFsm determines that fPaint is TRUE, invalidates the client rectangle and exits. As a result of invalidating the client rectangle, Windows® (1204) sends a WM₋₋ PAINT message to the access program (1206). On receipt of WM₋₋ PAINT, the access program (1204) checks the value of fPaint for each state machine, and if TRUE, sets fPaint to FALSE and redraws the visible subregion of the selectable region associated with that state machine and any menu option located thereon. The color of the redrawn visible subregion is determined by the value of the Color variable for that state machine. The incremented value of pPocket->Color results in a slight brightening of selectable region (2348) and reduces the difference between pPocket->Color and pPocket->CrestTide, corresponding to the dwell period required to select the associated selectable region. After redrawing, control returns to Windows® (1204).

Shortly before or shortly after the state machine associated with selectable region (2348) receives EV₋₋ CORRIDOR, all other state machines each receive EV₋₋ MOVEMENT and each makes the state transitions from ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE to ST₋₋ DECAY to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE.

This scenario is repeated at 54 millisecond intervals while the cursor hotspot travels along path (2322) to location (2326), a location intersecting corridor (2308). Between this location (2326) and location (2328), a location intersecting corridor (2306), along path (2322), the procedure CreateEvent determines that all state machines should receive EV₋₋ MOVEMENT, driving each of them from their current state to ST₋₋ DECAY and back to their current state. As described in the example in the detailed description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention, ST₋₋ DECAY state processing darkens the selectable region associated with the state machine, but not below a predetermined brightness represented by the variable InitialColor. Thus selectable region (2348) darkens when the cursor hotspot no longer intersects corridor (2308). From location (2328) to location (2330), the procedure CreateEvent determines that the state machine associated with selectable region (2346) should received EV₋₋ CORRIDOR and all other state machines EV₋₋ MOVEMENT. Consequently, selectable region (2346) gradually brightens up to a ceiling represented by pPocket->InitialColor plus 80% of the difference between pPocket->CrestTide and pPocket->InitialColor. The duration of dwell time required for selection of selectable region (2346) is thus reduced to approximately 20% of the dwell period required without Facilitated Dwell.

Preferably, the Direction and Intersection subaspect of the invention is implemented by making the changes to the prototype described for the Facilitated Dwell subaspect, except that, in incrementing pPocket->Color in ST₋₋ CORRIDOR, the upper limit for pPocket->Color in ST₋₋ CORRIDOR state processing is pPocket->CrestTide minus pPocket->Increment. Assuming these changes, a selectable region whose associated Color variable is at this upper limit is selected during processing of the WM₋₋ TIMER message immediately following the intersection of the cursor hotspot and the selectable region.

Preferably, the Direction subaspect of the invention is implemented by making the changes to the prototype described for the Direction and Intersection subaspect of the invention, except that (1) the corridors are narrow, as illustrated in FIG. 40; and (2) the pseudo-code for state processing in ST₋₋ CORRIDOR is as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         case ST.sub.-- CORRIDOR:                                                                    /* set state to previous state */                                              /* in preparation for the next */                                              /* state transition       */                                              set pPocket->State to pPocket->PreviousState                                   increment pPocket->Color by                                                    pPocket->CorridorIncrement but not above                                       pPocket->Ceiling                                                               if pPocket->Color was changed                                                    set pPocket->fPaint to TRUE                                                  set fInternalEvent to TRUE                                                     if pPocket->Color was changed from a value below                               pPocket->CrestTide to a value greater than or                                  equal to                                                                       pPocket->CrestTide                                                               set Event to EV.sub.-- STEP.sub.-- UP                                        else                                                                             set Event to EV.sub.-- NULL                                                  break                                                                  ______________________________________                                    

State ST₋₋ CORRIDOR may now generate the internal event EV₋₋ STEP₋₋ UP, as state ST₋₋ DWELL does in the detailed description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention. A state machine in state ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE having a Color variable equal to or exceeding the CrestTide variable, will transition via PocketFsm[ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE][EV₋₋ STEP₋₋ UP] to ST₋₋ SELECTED, and perform the ST₋₋ SELECTED state processing described in the detailed description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention.

Preferably, the Appraisal subaspect of the invention is implemented by making the changes to the prototype described for the Facilitated Dwell subaspect, except that (1) the corridors are visible on the display (2112), (2) one of the selectable regions is designated to be the target selectable region and this is indicated to the operator, (3) cursor locations are stored in memory (2106), and (4) following an intersection of the cursor hotspot and the target or selection of a selectable region other than the target, path directness is measured in accordance with the stored cursor locations.

The preferred embodiment of the Drift Attenuation aspect of the invention will now be described in detail from an implementation perspective. Preferably, the Drift Attenuation aspect is implemented by modifications to the access program (1206) described in the detailed description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention, modified as described above in the description of the implementation of the preferred embodiment of the Facilitated Dwell subaspect of the invention and further modified as follows: (1) add two booleans to the data set associated with each state machine, one called fDirectPath, the other fAttenuateDrift, and initialize each of them in all state machines to FALSE; (2) in both ST₋₋ DECAY and ST₋₋ CORRIDOR, set both pPocket->fDirectPath and pPocket->fAttenuateDrift to FALSE; (3) append to ST₋₋ ENTRY state processing corresponding to the following pseudo-code:

    ______________________________________                                         if pPocket->Color equals or exceeds                                            (pPocket->InitialColor + (0.5 * (pPocket->CrestTide -                          pPocket->InitialColor)))                                                         set pPocket->fDirectPath to TRUE                                             ______________________________________                                    

(4) append to ST₋₋ DWELL state processing corresponding to the following pseudo-code:

    ______________________________________                                         if the present cursor position intersects the edge of                          the Windows ® cursor clipping rectangle and                                pPocket->fDirectPath is TRUE                                                      set pPocket->fAttentuateDrift to TRUE                                       if pPocket->fAttentuateDrift is TRUE                                              store the difference in each of the x and y                                    coordinates ("delta") between consecutive cursor                               locations in a circular buffer accommodating the                               last ten deltas, overwriting the oldest delta with                             the newest delta                                                               if ten deltas have been accumulated                                              calculate the average acceleration indicated                                   by the last ten deltas                                                         if the average acceleration is negative                                          set the cursor at the location one half                                        the distance between the current cursor                                        location and the previous cursor location                                      display the cursor at this new cursor                                          location                                                                ______________________________________                                    

E. Intersection

The preferred embodiment of the Intersection aspect of the invention will now be described in detail from a functional perspective using an example depicted in FIGS. 44, 45, 46. FIG. 44 shows the display (2112) of a general purpose computer system (2218 in FIG. 15) to which is coupled a pointer (2202). Eight regions are delimited with respect to the display (2112) and together circumscribe region (2650) on the display (2112). Four of these regions, (2602), (2612), (2622), and (2632), are entirely on the display (2112). Each of the other four regions respectively includes both a visible subregion ((2606), (2616), (2626), and (2636)) on the display (2112) and an invisible subregion ((2604), (2614), (2624), and (2634)) adjacent and outside the display (2112). Assume, for example, that the pointer is indicating location (2656) on the display (2112) and that the operator moves the pointer so that the location indicated by the pointer first intersects one of the regions at location (2652) in region (2612). Upon this intersection, the display changes to that shown in FIG. 45. FIG. 45 depicts a selectable region consisting of the union of invisible subregion (2714) and visible subregion (2716), hereinafter referred to as selectable region (2714/2716). Selectable region (2714/2712) is associated with menu option "sumac". In the preferred embodiment, the operator may select menu option "sumac" by dwelling on any part of the selectable region for the selection threshold period. Assuming, for example, that instead of moving the pointer from a position indicating location (2656) to location (2652), the operator instead moves the pointer so that the location indicated by the pointer first enters one of the regions at location (2654) in region (2614/2616). Upon this intersection, the display changes to that shown in FIG. 46. FIG. 46 depicts a selectable region consisting of the union of invisible subregion (2814) and visible subregion (2816), hereinafter referred to as selectable region (2814/2816). Selectable region (2814/2816) is associated with menu option "vort<space>x". In the preferred embodiment, the operator may select menu option "vort<space>x" by dwelling on any part of the selectable region for the selection threshold period.

In the preferred embodiment, each of the other seven regions shown in FIG. 44 is associated with a selectable region and each selectable region is associated with a menu option. The menu options shown in FIG. 44, in addition to "sumac" and "vort<space>x" are "wizen", "backspace", "words", "talk", ldhbfk" and "ypgqj,". The operator may select the menu option associated with any one of the selectable regions by moving the location indicated by the pointer from circumscribed region (2650) into the region associated with the selectable region and then dwelling on the selectable region for the selection threshold period. Each selectable region preferably includes all the area of its associated region.

An operator having impaired ability to maintain a body member in a steady position but who can control the point at which the location indicated by a body member enters a region may, in accord with the Intersection aspect of the invention, use his relatively unimpaired motor capability to selectively enlarge a selectable region or determine which of two or more selectable regions will occupy a predetermined area, thus making it easier for him to select. If the general purpose computer system of the preferred embodiment is coupled to a speech synthesizer and the menu options are letters or words, an operator with impaired speech may select or spell words and speak them.

FIGS. 47 and 48 illustrate the upper right corner of a display in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the Intersection aspect of the invention. FIG. 47 depicts the upper right corner of a display (2112) of a computer system (2116) having thereon two regions, (1404) and (1402), each associated respectively with a selectable region, each selectable region associated respectively with menu options "bdfhkl" and "<space>cmnrst". The selectable region associated with region (1402) includes all of region (1402). The selectable region associated with region (1404) includes all of region (1404) plus area (1406) between region (1404) and the right edge of the display (2112). Assuming the operator uses a pointer to indicate a location on the display and that the location to first intersect the union of regions (1402) and (1404) intersects region (1402), the display remains as shown in FIG. 47. Dwelling in area (1406) operates to select the menu option "<space>cmnrst". If instead the location to first intersect the union of regions (1402) and (1404) intersects region (1404), the display changes to that shown in FIG. 48. Dwelling in area (1406) then operates to select the menu option "bdfhkl".

The preferred embodiment of the Intersection aspect will now be described in detail from an implementation perspective. The Intersection aspect is preferably implemented by modifications to the access program (1206) described above in the detailed description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention. The modifications are: (1) add a row to the state table aPocketFsm at row index 18 for a new state. ST₋₋ EXIT and initialize the value of aPocketFsm[ST₋₋ EXIT][EV₋₋ NULL] to 4., the value of ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE; (2) at initialization time, change aPocketFsm[ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE][EV₋₋ CROSS₋₋ OUT] to 18, the value of ST₋₋ EXIT; (3) at initialization time for each state machine, (a) if the visible subregion associated with the state machine does not abut the edge of the display, set fInterior to TRUE, otherwise set fInterior to FALSE; (b) initialize iAdjacentPocket to the index of the state machine associated with the adjacent region. For example, assuming the index of the state machine associated with region (2614/2616) in FIG. 44 is 2 and the index of the state machine associated with region (2612) in FIG. 44 is 3, iAdjacentPocket in the data set associated with the state machine associated with region (2614/2616) is initialized to 3 and iAdjacentPocket in the data set associated with the state machine associated with region (2612) is initialized to 2; (c) initialize the second array of points to define the boundaries of the region associated with the selectable region associated with each state machine, for example, region (2612), and initialize the first array of points to define the boundaries of the visible subregion of the selectable region associated with the state machine, for example, visible subregion (2712); (4) remove creation of Windows® regions corresponding to visible subregions from the access program (1206) initialization; (5) append to ST₋₋ ENTRY state processing corresponding to the following pseudo-code:

    ______________________________________                                         if pPocket->fInterior equals TRUE                                                 if pPocket->hRegion is not NULL                                                   delete the Windows ® region having the handle                              pPocket->hRegion                                                            create a Windows ® region having the boundaries                            defined by the second array of points associated                               with this state machine and set pPocket->hRegion                               to the handle to this region                                                   set pPocket->fPaint to TRUE                                                 send EV.sub.-- RESET to all state machines except this one                     and the state machine having the index                                         pPocket->iAdjacentPocket                                                       set pAdjacentPocket to point to the data set                                   associated with the state machine having the index                             pPocket->iAdjacentPocket                                                       delete the Windows ® region having the handle                              pAdjacentPocket->hRegion                                                       set pAdjacentPocket->hRegion to NULL                                           set pAdjacentPocket->fPaint to TRUE                                            ______________________________________                                    

(4) append to ST₋₋ RESET state processing corresponding to the following pseudo-code:

    ______________________________________                                         if pPocket->hRegion is not NULL                                                   delete the Windows ® region having the handle                              pPocket->hRegion                                                            create a Windows ® region having the boundaries defined                    by the second array of points associated with this                             state machine and set pPocket->hRegion to the handle                           to this region                                                                 ______________________________________                                    

An example of the selection of selectable region in accord with the Intersection aspect of the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 44 and 45. Following initialization, assume that the operator moves the pointer (2202) from a position indicating location (2656) toward location (2652) in FIG. 44. At the next expiration of the cursor polling timer, the procedure CreateEvent sends an EV₋₋ MOVEMENT event to the state machine associated with the selectable region associated with the menu option "sumac". The event EV₋₋ MOVEMENT drives this state machine from its current state, ST₋₋ RESET, to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE. The pseudo-code for ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE in procedure PocketFsm is a break statement, indicating that no state specific action is taken at this time, other than the transition to ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE. Control returns to Windows® (1204). At the expiration of the cursor polling timer after the location indicated by the pointer reaches location (2652), the procedure CreateEvent sends event EV₋₋ DWELL to the state machine associated with the selectable region associated with the menu option "sumac". EV₋₋ DWELL drives this state machine from ST₋₋ EBB₋₋ TIDE to ST₋₋ ENTRY. Following the pseudo-code for ST₋₋ ENTRY state processing shown above and in the Procedure PocketFsm, fInternalEvent is set to TRUE, Event is set to EV₋₋ NULL, the Windows® region corresponding to region (2612), ie. the Windows® region having the handle pPocket->hRegion, is deleted and a new Windows® region having the boundaries indicated in the first array of points, ie. visible subregion (2712) in FIG. 45, is created and the handle stored in pPocket->hRegion. pPocket->fPaint is set to TRUE, EV₋₋ RESET is sent to state machines associated with regions other than (2612) and (2614/2616). Data in the data set associated with the adjacent region (2614/2616) is now modified. The Windows® region corresponding to region (2614/2616) is deleted, hRegion for the state machine associated with that region is set to NULL and fPaint associated with that state machine is set to TRUE. The event EV₋₋ NULL drives the state machine associated with selectable region (2714/2712) to ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE. The pseudo-code for ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE is only a break statement, so there is no state specific action for ST₋₋ LOW₋₋ TIDE other than entry into this state. pPocket-fPaint is TRUE so the client rectangle is invalidated, resulting in the redrawing of Windows® regions associated with state machines having fPaint equal to TRUE so that the display (2112) appears as shown in FIG. 45. Control returns to Windows® (1204).

Dwelling at any location within selectable region (2714/2712) now causes the procedure CreateEvent to send EV₋₋ DWELL to the state machine associated with this selectable region. Selection of this selectable region proceeds as described above in the detailed description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention.

Assuming the operator moves the location indicated by the pointer out of selectable region (2714/2712) prior to selection. The procedure CreateEvent sends the event EV₋₋ CROSS₋₋ OUT to the state machine associate with that selectable region, driving it to ST₋₋ EXIT. The state processing for ST₋₋ EXIT causes the display (2112) to change to that shown in FIG. 44.

F. Alignment

The embodiment of the Alignment aspect of the invention as implemented in the prototype will now be described in detail from a functional and implementation perspective using an example depicted in FIGS. 49, 50, and 51. Each of these Figures depicts the upper right corner of a display (2112) having two visible subregions on the display. In these Figures, no subregions outside the display (2112) are shown. Alignment is achieved in several steps and requires operator interaction with the apparatus. For purposes of this example, assume that FIG. 49 depicts the upper right corner of the display (2112), that an operator, fitted with a head pointer, desires to keep the cursor on the display directly in his line of sight and that the location indicated by the pointer is presently 15 degrees to the right of the location of the arrow cursor (1802). The operator now dwells on selectable region (1834) for an predetermined period ("the lock threshold") which preferably is significantly greater than the selection threshold period. The apparatus responds to this extended dwell period by changing the display to that shown in FIG. 49. The arrow cursor is removed from the display and the lock icon (1902) is displayed in a predetermined location of the intersected selectable region ("lockspot") on the display. The lock icon remains on the lockspot for a predetermined period ("the lock period"); it does not move responsive to the operator's head movement. While the lock icon is displayed, the operator turns his head, bringing his line of sight into alignment with the lockspot. At the expiration of the lock period, the apparatus changes the display to that shown in FIG. 51. The lock icon is erased and the arrow cursor appears in the lockspot, which is where the operator is now looking. The arrow cursor moves in response to the operator's head movement.

An operator who loses alignment between location indicated by his pointer and the cursor may thus initiate an alignment sequence, and then, by moving his head or other body member when the prototype indicates he should do so by displaying the lock icon, regain alignment. That the lock icon is displayed indicates to the operator that he can align his head or other body member. The position of the lock icon indicates to the operator the location on the display with which he should align his head or other body member. This is the location where the arrow cursor will appear at the expiration of the lock period.

The Alignment aspect will now be described in detail from an implementation perspective as implemented in the prototype. The Alignment aspect of the invention is implemented an integral part of the state machine described in the detailed description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention, using the same state machines and initialization, with the exception that aPocketFsm[ST₋₋ CREST₋₋ TIDE][EV₋₋ CEILING] is changed from 9, the value of ST₋₋ DWELL, to 14, the value of ST₋₋ BEGIN₋₋ LOCK. The operator initiates the alignment process by moving the cursor so that the cursor hotspot intersects a selectable region. As an example, FIG. 49 shows the arrow cursor (1802) intersecting selectable region (1834). The operator then dwells on the selectable region for the lock threshold, preferably at least one second greater than the selection threshold period. This operator action causes the state machine associated with the intersected selectable region to reach state ST₋₋ CREST₋₋ TIDE. On receipt of the first WM₋₋ TIMER message following entry into state ST₋₋ CREST₋₋ TIDE, the procedure CreateEvent creates event EV₋₋ CEILING, which drives the state machine from state ST₋₋ CREST₋₋ TIDE to state ST₋₋ BEGIN₋₋ LOCK. The state processing within state ST₋₋ BEGIN₋₋ LOCK beeps, sets the system cursor location to the selectable region's lockspot, sets the system cursor to null erasing the arrow cursor, displays a the lock icon (1902 in FIG. 50) on the selectable region's lockspot and initializes the global variable iLockCursor to the number of expirations of the cursor polling timer corresponding to the period of time the cursor will be locked (the "lock period") configured by the operator, preferably two seconds, and control is returned to Windows® (1204). Following the next expiration of the cursor polling timer, the procedure CreateEvent may generate an event EV₋₋ DECAY, EV₋₋ DWELL, EV₋₋ CROSS₋₋ OUT. EV₋₋ MOVEMENT or EV₋₋ CEILING. Each of these events drives the state machine from state ST₋₋ BEGIN₋₋ LOCK to state ST₋₋ LOCK. Within state ST₋₋ LOCK the system cursor is moved to the selectable region's lockspot and iLockCursor is decremented. Then it is determined whether iLockCursor equals zero. If not, control returns to Windows® (1204) for another iteration through ST₋₋ LOCK. During the lock period, the system cursor is moved to the lockspot upon every expiration of the cursor polling timer, thus inhibiting movement of the cursor from the lockspot so that, during the lock period, the operator may move the location indicated by the pointer while the lock icon remains on or verv close to the selectable region's lockspot. When, eventually, iLockCursor is decremented to zero, the global Event is set to EV₋₋ NULL and fInternalEvent is set to TRUE so that another state transition occurs immediately. This transition drives the state machine from state ST₋₋ LOCK to state ST₋₋ END₋₋ LOCK. Within state ST₋₋ FND₋₋ LOCK, the lock icon is erased, Windows® (1204) is directed to display the arrow cursor (2002) at the lockspot, as shown in FIG. 51, the fPaint flag associated with the intersected selectable region is set to TRUE so that the selectable region will be drawn, restoring the background behind the erased lock icon. Assuming the cursor hotspot remains on the selectable region for another 54 milliseconds, CreateEvent generates EV₋₋ DWELL, which drives the state machine to ST₋₋ DISCARD. Referring to the pseudo-code in PocketFsm, ST₋₋ DISCARD state processing sets State to PreviousState, returning the state machine to ST₋₋ END₋₋ LOCK and in effect, discarding the last event. Following the expiration of the cursor polling timer after the operator moves the cursor out of the selectable region it presently intersects, the procedure CreateEvent generates an event EV₋₋ CROSS₋₋ OUT which drives the state machine from state ST₋₋ END₋₋ LOCK to state ST₋₋ SELECT₋₋ AND₋₋ OUT. The access program (1206) performs the state processing for state ST₋₋ SELECT₋₋ AND₋₋ OUT and subsequent states as previously described in the description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention.

In the prototype, the operator may initiate alignment by depressing any character key on the keyboard. On receipt of a WM₋₋ CHAR message from Windows® (1204), the access program (1206) removes the arrow cursor from the display and displays the lock icon at a predetermined location on the display. In the prototype, the predetermined location is the center of the display (2112). After a predetermined period, two seconds in the prototype, the lock cursor icon is erased and the arrow cursor displayed at the predetermined location.

In the prototype, the cursor is automatically centered if the cursor hotspot does not move for two minutes. Lack of movement of the cursor hotspot is detected in the procedure CreateEvent, which generates the event EV₋₋ IDLE₋₋ TIMEOUT for all state machines. The state processing of each state machine on receipt of EV₋₋ IDLE₋₋ TIMEOUT depends upon its current state. State machines in states ST₋₋ INITIAL and ST₋₋ RESET stay in those states. State machines in all other states in which an external event can be received are driven to ST₋₋ IDLE. Referring to the pseudo-code in PocketFsm, ST₋₋ IDLE state processing moves the cursor to the center of the display, sets fInternalEvent to TRUE and sets Event to EV₋₋ NULL. PocketFsm[ST₋₋ IDLE][NULL] equals 3, the value of ST₋₋ RESET. The access program (1206) performs the state processing for the ST₋₋ RESET and subsequent states as described in the description of the Perimeter aspect of the invention.

G. Length Order

The preferred embodiment of the Length Order aspect of the invention will now be described in detail from a functional and implementation perspective using an example depicted in FIG. 52 and described in the detailed description of the Location Indication aspect of the invention. Assume, for purposes of this example, that the operator has previously selected the letter "s". In the preferred embodiment, the string "s" is passed from the access program (1206 in FIG. 16) via the Windows® Dynamic Data Exchange ("DDE") interface to a database program (1210 in FIG. 16), preferably the FoxPro for Windows® version 2.6 program, available from Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash., U.S.A. The FoxPro program looks up the record having the index "s" in a database composed of 26 letters, one for each letter of the alphabet. Each record includes one field for a letter of the alphabet and 12 fields containing the 12 most frequently used English words beginning with that letter. The 12 words in the record are ordered primarily by length, determined by the number of letters in each word, and secondarily by alphabetic order. The FoxPro program returns these 12 words to the access program (1206) and these are displayed on the display (2112) as named menu options. The twelve named menu options, ordered as described and depicted in FIG. 52, are "so", "say", "she", "said", "show", "some", "such", "state", "school", "social", "service", and "student". Preferably, only the root form of inflected forms of words which can be created through available suffixes ("root word") may be displayed as named menu options, so that the limited number of available menu options in combination with the apparatus' capability to add suffixes offers a large number of inflected forms.

Words which may be named menu options in the same menu may be ordered by any suitable method. Preferably ordering is done by an ordering program operating on a corpus of text or speech including text or speech produced by individuals whose age, sex, geographic location and disability are the same as or similar to that of the operator. The ordering program determines the frequency of use of root words in the corpus, selects the twelve most common root words, beginning with every possible combination of one, two and three letters, and stores them in three FoxPro databases for one, two and three letter word beginnings respectively, the words in each record ordered as described above. Ordering the words prior to a request minimizes the delay between the operator's selection of a letter or letters and the display of the named menu options. Preferably, the ordering program also creates a database of records for root words beginning with four or more letters. Each record includes the words and its frequency of use in the corpus. When the operator selects four or more letters consecutively, the access program (1206) requests via DDE that the FoxPro program (1210) look up words starting with four or more letters in the database for words beginning with four or more letters, select the 12 most frequently used words matching the selected letters, order them as described above, and return them to the access program (1206).

An operator searching named menu options for a desired menu option may start his search in the area on the display most likely to contain the desired menu option. Upon comparison of the length of the desired menu option to a displayed menu option, the operator may determine whether to continue his search from the displayed menu option toward the front of the list or toward the rear of the list, or to jump to another displayed menu option in the list Further, he may make this determination more quickly than if the displayed menu options were sorted conventionally. The reduced menu option search time increases the operator's productivity with respect to conventional menu interfaces.

H. Location Indication

The preferred embodiment of the Location Indication aspect of the invention will now be described in detail from a functional perspective using an example depicted in FIG. 52. FIG. 52 shows the display (2112) of a general purpose computer system (2218 in FIG. 15) having thereon eight selectable regions, each associated respectively with a menu option. Each of the eight selectable regions consists of the union of a visible subregion on the display (2112) and an invisible subregion (not shown) located outside the display (2112) and adjacent the visible subregion. Selectable region (4301) is associated with menu option "so", selectable region (4303) with menu option "say", selectable region (4305) with menu option "she", selectable region (4307) with menu option "suffixes", selectable region (4309) with menu option "words", selectable region (4311) w ith menu option "some", selectable region (4313) with menu option "show" and selectable region (4315) with menu option "said". Also shown on the display (2112) are 12 indicating regions, each associated respectively with a menu option. Indicating region (4351) is associated with menu option "so", indicating region (4353) with menu option "say", indicating region (4355) with menu option "she", indicating region (4361) with menu option "some", indicating region (4363) with menu option "show", indicating region (4365) with menu option "said", indicating region (4371) is associated with menu option "such", indicating region (4373) with menu option "state", indicating region (4375) with menu option "school", indicating region (4381) with menu option "student", indicating region (4383) with menu option "service" and indicating region (4385) with menu option "social". Each indicating region is located on the display (2112) in the region (4350) circumscribed by the selectable regions. In accord with the Location Indication aspect of the invention, the location of each of the indicating regions (4351), (4352), (4355), (4361), (4363) and (4365) indicates the location of each of the selectable regions associated with the menu option associated with the indicating region. These selectable regions, respectively, are (4301), (4303), (4305), (4311), (4313) and (4315).

In the preferred embodiment, selection of menu option "words" causes selectable region (4301) to be associated with menu option "such" instead of menu option "so", selectable region (4303) to be associated with menu option "state" instead of menu option "say", selectable region (4305) to be associated with menu option "school" instead of menu option "she", selectable region (4311) to be associated with menu option "student" instead of menu option "some", selectable region (4313) to be associated with menu option "service" instead of menu option "show", and selectable region (4315) to be associated with menu option "social" instead of menu option "said". In the preferred embodiment, following the selection of menu option "words", the menu option newly associated with each selectable region is displayed on that selectable region (not shown). Following the selection of menu option "words", indicating regions (4371), (4373), (4375), (4381), (4383) and (4385) each indicate the location of each of the selectable regions associated with the menu option associated with the indicating region.

The indicating regions and the menu options displayed thereon in FIG. 52 are disproportionately large relative to the rest of FIG. 52. They are approximately 1.5 times their proportionate size. They are represented as shown in FIG. 52 in compliance with Patent Cooperation Treaty Rules requiring a minimum size for letters in figures.

In the preferred embodiment of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention, all the menu options displayed on the selectable regions cannot be seen in a glance by many operators. However, when the displayed menu options are displayed on the indicating regions, for example, as shown in FIG. 52, the displayed menu options can be seen in a glance, facilitating searching of the menu by the operator for his intended menu option. Since the location of each selectable region is indicated by the location of the associated indicating region, the operator may point to the intended selectable region without searching it out or pausing to verify that the menu option associated with a selectable region is the menu option he desires. The frequent operator of such a menu interface may habituate the process of selecting an intended menu option so he can focus his attention on another task while selecting the option, for example, planning his next interaction with the menu interface.

FIG. 53 depicts a display and structures in accord with an another embodiment of the Location Indication aspect of the invention. Selectable regions (4604), (4608), (4612), (4616), (4620), (4624), (4628) and (4632) are located adjacent the display (2112) and associated respectively with menu options "so", "say", "she", "suffixes", "said", "show", "some" and "words". Each selectable region is unbounded on the side furthest from and parallel to the edge of the display. Indicating regions (4351), (4353), (4355), (4357), (4367), (4361), (4363) and (4365) are associated respectively with menu options "so", "say", "she", "suffixes", "said", "show", "some" and "words". In accord with the Location Indication aspect of the invention, the location of an indicating region indicates the location of the selectable region associated with the menu option associated with the indicating region.

The large size of the selectable regions outside the display, for example, as shown in FIG. 53, facilitate selection by individuals with impaired fine motor control while the indicating regions indicate the location of each associated selectable region.

Yet another embodiment in accord with the Location Indication aspect of the invention is shown in FIGS. 54 and 55. FIG. 54 depicts a display (2112) having thereon eight selectable regions, each associated respectively with a menu option. As shown in the Figure, selectable region (3911) is associated with menu option "aeiou", selectable region (3910) with menu option "gqjyvwxz", selectable region (3908) with menu option "setup", selectable region (3907) with menu option undo, selectable region (3905) with menu option "control", selectable region (3904) with menu option "words", selectable region (3902) with menu option "nsrm<space>tcp" and selectable region (3901) with menu option "bdfhkl". Menu option "aeiou" is associated with a submenu which includes submenu options "a", "e", "i", "o" and "u", displayed on indicating regions (3930), (3928), (3926), (3924) and (3922) respectively. The background pattern of indicating region (3930) matches the background pattern of selectable region (3908), indicating that submenu option "a" will be associated with selectable region (3908) following selection of menu option "aeiou". Similarly, the background pattern of indicating region (3928) matches the background pattern of selectable region (3910), indicating that submenu option "e" will be associated with selectable region (3910) following selection of menu option "aeiou". Alternatively, the indication may be made by the size, shape, hue, brightness, contrast, dithering, fill, blinking, hatching or pattern of the indicating region or any part thereof, including either of the foreground and background of the indicating region.

When the operator selects selectable region (3911), the display (2112) changes to that shown in FIG. 55. Now, selectable region (3910) is associated with submenu option "e", selectable region (3908) with submenu option "a", selectable region (3904) with submenu option "u", selectable region (3902) with submenu option "o" and selectable region (3901) with submenu option "i". In accord with the Location Indication aspect of the invention, the appearance of an indicating region indicates the location of the selectable regions associated with the submenu option associated with the indicating region.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 54 and 55 illustrates how the Location Indication aspect of the invention speeds selection of a submenu option of a menu hierarchy. The operator, by observing the background pattern of the submenu option within the displayed menu option, may determine which selectable region he should next dwell on. The operator may make this determination prior to selection of the menu option and need not wait for the submenu options to be displayed on their associated selectable regions. In accordance with the Location Indication aspect of the invention, the operator may select or spell out words more quickly than with conventional automated menu hierarchy. Assuming the display (2112) is part of computer system, these words may be input to an application program, and, if the computer system is coupled to a speech synthesizer, these words may be spoken.

FIG. 56 depicts another apparatus in accord with the Location Indication aspect of the invention. An example of the operation of this apparatus will now be described. FIG. 56 depicts display area (4770) adjacent to which are located selectable regions (4701), (4703), (4705), (4707), (4709), (4711), (4713) and (4715). Not shown in the Figure are three sets of eight menu options. At different times during the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 56, for example at one second intervals, the plurality of selectable regions is associated with a different set of eight menu options such that, for a one second period, each selectable region is associated respectively with one menu option of the associated set of menu options. On the display area are 24 indicators, each associated respectively with one of the menu options. Each indicator indicates when a selectable region is associated with the menu option associated with the indicator. Thus, each of the indicators (4721), (4723), (4725), (4727), (4729), (4731), (4733) and (4735) is associated respectively with a menu option which may be in turn associated respectively, for example, during a first one second period, with one of the selectable regions. The operator may select a desired one of the 24 menu options by selecting the associated selectable region during the period when the desired menu option is associated with the associated selectable region.

Alternatively, the apparatus shown in FIG. 56 may require two successive selection events, the first selection event to select a set of eight menu options or to select a set of three menu options, the set being associated with one selectable region, and the second selection event to select one of the selected set. For example, the first selection event may select the set of menu options associated with indicators (4773), (4753) and (4733), and the second selection event may select one menu option from this set.

Still another apparatus in accord with the Location Indication aspect of the invention is shown in FIG. 57. FIG. 57 depicts display area (4770) outside of which are located selectable regions (5001), (5003), (5005), (5007), (5009), (5011), (5013), (5015), (5021), (5023), (5025), (5027), (5029), (5031), (5033) and (5035). The location of each selectable region is indicated by an indicating region on the display area, (5041), (5043), (5045), (5047), (5049), (5051), (5053), (5055), (5061), (5063), (5065), (5067), (5069), (5071), (5073) and (5075), respectively.

The Location Indication aspect of the invention will now be described from an implementation perspective with reference to FIG. 52. Preferably, the Location Indication aspect is implemented by modifications to the access program (1206) described in the detailed description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention. The modifications required for the Location Indication aspect of the invention are: (1) at initialization time: (a) create twelve child edit windows, each corresponding to one of the indicating regions shown in FIG. 52, each of the class "edit", each having the style (WS₋₋ CHILD|WS₋₋ BORDER|WS₋₋ DISABLED|ES₋₋ MULTILINE|AlignmentStyle) where "|" represents a logical OR operation and where AlignmentStyle equals ES₋₋ RIGHT for child windows having right justified text and ES₋₋ LEFT for child windows having left justified text, as shown in FIG. 52; (b) move the child edit windows so they are located in or near the center of the display; (c) display the child edit windows; and (d) initialize an array which maps each child edit window, for example, by an index between 0 and 11 inclusive, to an element of the aLabel array; and (2) modify the code implementing ST₋₋ SELECTED state processing, so that after changing the menu options associated with various selectable regions (by changing the pLabel element of the data set associated with each of the state machines to point to the menu option in the aLabel array to be associated with that state machine), the array mapping each child window to an element of the aLabel array is used to access the text of the menu option and the text of each child edit window is set accordingly. In the preferred embodiment, the six menu options displayed in indicating regions (4371), (4374), (4375), (4381), (4383) and (4385) are present in the aLabel array when FIG. 52 is shown, but are not associated with selectable regions until the operator selects menu option "words".

I. Sound Match

The preferred embodiment of the Sound Match aspect of the invention will now be described in detail from a functional perspective using an example depicted in FIG. 58. FIG. 58 shows a display (2112) of a computer system (2116) having thereon six regions or sound indicators, (5801), (5803), (5805), (5807), (5809), and (5811), each associated with a menu option, "ypgqj,", "ldhbfk", "wizen", "words", "vort x", and "sumac", respectively. Each menu option is displayed on its associated sound indicator. Each sound indicator has a distinct hue. For example, sound indicator (5801) may be green, (5803) white, (5805) blue, (5807) red, (5809) orange and (5811) grey. Each of these sound indicators indicates a sound the operator is able to consistently produce, for example, the vowel sound e as it sounds in green, i as it sounds in white, u as it sounds in blue, e as it sounds in red, o as it sounds in orange and e it sounds in grey. Assuming the operator says o as it sounds in orange, "vort x", the menu option associated with the orange sound indicator (5809) is selected and the display is changed to that shown in FIG. 59. In the preferred embodiment, submenu options space, "x", "r", "t", "v" and "o" are now associated with each of the sound indicators (5901), (5903), (5905), (5907), (5909), and (5911) respectively. Assuming the operator says e as in green, submenu option space is selected and a space is input to the application program (6107) whose output appears in region (5850).

FIG. 60 illustrates a display and structures in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the Sound Match aspect of the invention. FIG. 60 depicts a display (2112) of a computer system (2116). Adjacent the display (2112) is a static display (6252) having thereon eight sound indicators (6204), (6208), (6212), (6216), (6220), (6224), (6228), and (6232). Each of the eight sound indicators is a symbol in a phonetic character set graphically representing a sound. Alternatively, the sound indicators may include a picture of an object, for example, a tree, a house, a boy, or a map of a country, or may include a shape, for example, a square, a circle, or a triangle, or may include a hue indicator, a pitch indicator, a volume indicator, a sound duration indicator, a change in pitch indicator, or a change in volume indicator. Eight menu options, "vort<space>x", "sumac", "wizen", "undo", "words", "talk", "ldhbfk" and "ypgqj," are displayed on the display (2112) each adjacent and associated respectively with one of the sound indicators, the eight menu options together circumscribing region (6250) on the display. The operator may select any one of the menu options by producing the sound indicated by the sound indicator associated with the menu option. In response to a menu selection, submenu options of the selected menu option may be displayed and associated respectively with a sound indicator.

An operator with impaired speech but who is able to consistently produce a relatively small number of sounds distinguishable by conventional speech recognition means may, in accord with the Sound Match aspect of the invention, select from among the small number of menu options by using the sounds he can produce. Assuming the display (2112) is part of computer system, the menu option may represent inputs to an application program, and, if the computer system is coupled to a speech synthesizer, the menu option may represent words to be spoken.

FIG. 61 illustrates a display and structures in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the Sound Match aspect of the invention. FIG. 61 depicts a display (2112) of a computer system (2116) having thereon six square sound indicators, (6401), (6403), (6405), (6411), (6413), and (6415) arranged in two columns of three sound indicators. Each sound indicator abuts a sound indicator in the other column, the sound indicator located above it, if any, and the sound indicator located below it, if any. Assume that the operator is entering Chinese, that he uses a keyboard to enter a phonetic unit and intonation according to the Pin Yin coding method for the Chinese language, and that he enters the distinct sound "fu", each of the sound indicators shown in FIG. 61 is associated respectively with a menu option, each of the plurality of menu options having a common characteristic. In this example, the menu options are homophones and the common characteristic is a phonetic unit and intonation but may be a phonetic unit alone, an intonation alone, a stroke used to draw an ideograph, a number of horizontal strokes, a number of vertical strokes, a number of total strokes, a stroke order, a radical, a part of speech, an ideograph, a kana, a diacritic, a classification of a part of an ideograph or other characteristic of a class of ideographs. Each of the sound indicators has a distinct hue. The operator may select any one of the displayed menu options, according to the Sound Match aspect of the invention, by speaking the sound associated with the sound indicator associated with the desired menu option. For example, assume the operator says. "blue" or a translation thereof, preferably a Chinese translation in this example. The ideograph located on the blue sound indicator is selected. In this example this ideograph is input to a word processing program and appears on the display (2112).

The Sound Match aspect of the invention thus allows an operator to select from an option from a menu, using speech recognition means, whether or not the menu options are homophones. The operator does not need to use his hands to make this selection and so may keep both his hands on the home row of the keyboard, in preparation for entering the next common characteristic, or, if specifying the common characteristic by voice, may select a menu option without interrupting the manual activity he's engaged in.

The preferred embodiment of the Sound Match aspect of the invention will now be described in detail from an implementation perspective, beginning with the hardware and software operating environment which will now be described with reference to FIG. 62 which depicts a speech recognition system (6001) including a computer system (2116) and keyboard (2210), as earlier described, a sound board (6007) and a microphone (6009). The conventional computer system (2116) preferably includes an 80486 CPU running at 33 MHz or faster, and is provided with Dragon Dictate Power Edition software, available from Dragon Systems, Inc., Newton, Mass., U.S.A. Preferably, the sound board is the Audio Capture Playback Adaptor and the microphone is the Shur Headset microphone, both available from Dragon Systems, Inc. FIG. 63 depicts the software environment of the preferred embodiment, which includes the earlier described Windows® version 3.1 operating system (1204), an optional Windows® application program (6107), the Windows® Dragon software driver (6101) included in the Dragon Dictate Power Edition software, the Dragon Application (6103) included in the Dragon Dictate Power Edition software, and a speech recognition access program (6105). The Dragon Application (6103) is configured to match a sample of each of six sounds distinguishable by the Dragon Application (6103) which the operator can consistently produce. Using the example described above, these are the vowel sounds produced by the operator of e as it sounds in green, i as it sounds in white. u as it sounds in blue, e as it sounds in red, o as it sounds in orange and e it sounds in grey. Each of these sounds is associated respectively with an identifier, for example, a number or a sequence of one or more characters. The speech recognition access program (6105) is preferably a Windows® application program developed using, in part, the Voice Tools Software Development Kit available from Dragon Systems, Inc. At initialization time, the speech recognition access program (6105) defines an array of data structures defining the menu and submenu options and the menu hierarchy. For example, one of the elements of this array determines that, on selection. certain actions are to be taken, for example, inputting text to an application program, and that certain submenu options and related data are to be associated with certain child edit windows. Also at initialization time, the speech recognition access program (6105) initializes callback procedures using the Dragon Application's Application Program Interface to receive notification from the Dragon Application when a sound has been matched. Also at initialization time, the main window of the speech recognition access program (6105) is preferably sized to just encompass the sound indicators shown in FIG. 58. Also at initialization time, the speech recognition access program (6105) creates six child edit controls, each corresponding to one of the sound indicators shown in FIG. 58. Each of the child edit controls has the background color described above and a text color of black or white depending upon which provides better contrast against the background color of the child edit control, and each is located on the display (2112) as shown in FIG. 58. Also at initialization time, the menu options of the initial menu are each associated respectively with one of the child edit controls. After initialization, the speech recognition access program (6105), upon notification from the Dragon Application that a sound has been received and a match attempted, sequentially searches the list of identifiers matched to the sound by the Dragon Application (6103), starting with the best match, until it finds an identifier corresponding to any one of the six sounds distinguishable by the Dragon Application (6103). Assuming the operator says o as it sounds in orange, the Dragon Application (6103) provides to the speech recognition access program (6105) a list of matches including, before any other identifier corresponding to any one of the six sounds distinguishable by the Dragon Application (6103), the identifier associated with child edit control (5809). This child edit control is currently associated with menu option "vort x", the matched menu option. The speech recognition access program (6105) then sets the text of each of the child edit controls to one of the submenu options associated with the matched menu option. In the example above, submenu options space, "x", "r", "t", "v" and "o" are associated with each of the child edit controls respectively and the text of the associated child edit control is set to the submenu option. Assuming the operator says e as in green, submenu option space is the matched submenu option and a space is input to the application program (6107) whose output appears in region (5850). Preferably the application program (6107) is an application program capable of executing a WM₋₋ SIZE command so that the speech recognition access program (6105) may size the windows of the application program (6107) to fit neatly in region (5850) and is capable of executing WM₋₋ CHAR messages so that the speech recognition access program (6105) may input characters to the application program (6107).

J. Ideographic Language

The preferred embodiment of the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention will now be described in detail from a functional perspective using an example depicted in FIG. 64. FIG. 64 shows the display (2112) of a general purpose computer system (2218 in FIG. 15) and 12 selectable regions. Each of the 12 selectable regions consists of the union of a visible subregion on the display (2112) and an invisible subregion located outside the display (2112) and adjacent the visible subregion. For example, the selectable region in the upper left corner both above and below the top of the display (2112) in FIG. 64 consists of invisible subregion (3604) and visible subregion (3606), and hereinafter is referred to as selectable region (3604/3606). The other selectable regions shown in FIG. 64, proceeding counter clockwise from selectable region (3604/3606) are (3608/3610), (3612/3614), (3616/3618), (3620/3622), (3624/3626), (3644/3646), (3648/3650), (3652/3654), (3656/3658), (3660/3662) and (3664/3666). In FIG. 64 each of the visible subregions is adjacent an edge of the display (2112). The selectable regions together circumscribe region (3680) in the center of the display. Also shown on the display (2112) within region (3680) in FIG. 64 are ten square indicating regions arranged in two columns of five indicating regions. Each indicating region abuts an indicating region in the other column, the indicating region located above it, if any, and the indicating region located below it, if any. In the preferred embodiment, each indicating region indicates by its location the location of a respectively associated selectable region, in accord with the Location Indication aspect of the invention. For example, the uppermost indicating region in the left column of indicating regions (3605) is associated with the uppermost selectable region (3604/3606) on the left side of the display. Indicating region (3609) located immediately below indicating region (3605) is associated with selectable region (3608/3610) located immediately below selectable region (3604/3606).

The operation of the example of the preferred embodiment of the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention will now be described. Assuming that the operator is fitted with a head pointer coupled to the general purpose computer system (2218), that he uses a keyboard to enter a phonetic unit and intonation according to the Pin Yin coding method for the Chinese language, and that he enters the distinct sound "fu", each of the plurality of the selectable regions shown in FIG. 64 is associated with one of a plurality of menu options, each of the plurality of menu options having a common characteristic. In this example, the common characteristic is a phonetic unit and intonation but may be a phonetic unit alone, an intonation alone, a stroke used to draw an ideograph, a number of horizontal strokes, a number of vertical strokes, a number of total strokes, a stroke order, a radical, a part of speech, an ideograph, a kana, a diacritic, a classification of a part of an ideograph or other characteristic of a class of ideographs. The ten menu options shown in FIG. 64 are Chinese ideographs each starting with the distinct sound "fu". Alternatively, the menu options may be sequences of graphic symbols including one or more kanji. In FIG. 64 the Chinese ideographs are each displayed on the visible subregion of the associated selectable region and on the indicating region associated with the selectable region. The remaining two of the 12 selectable regions, (3624/3626) and (3644/3646), are associated with menu options for undo and for displaying more menu options, respectively. In the preferred embodiment, in response to the selection of the menu option for displaying more menu options, each of the selectable regions associated with a menu option starting with the distinct sound "fu" is associated with a menu option not previously displayed and the newly associated menu option replaces the old menu option on the display.

Resuming now with the description of the example of the preferred embodiment, a cross hair cursor (3686) is displayed in the circumscribed region (3680). Assuming the operator desires to select the menu option associated with selectable region (3608/3610), he turns his head to the left and the cross hair cursor (3686) moves to the left, responsive to the head movement, until the cross hair cursor hotspot intersects selectable region (3608/3610) and he maintains the location of the cross hair cursor hotspot on that selectable region for the selection threshold period. The menu option associated with selectable region (3608/3610) is selected and added to text (3684) displayed in the circumscribed region (3680), the general purpose computer system (2218) emits an audible beep indicating that selection has occurred and the displayed menu options, both on the indicating regions and the visible subregions, are removed from the display.

In the preferred embodiment, selection is made in accord with the Facilitated Dwell subaspect of the Dwell aspect of the invention, described above. Thus, the operator receives an indication of the progress of his selection by a change in appearance of the indicating region associated with the intersected selectable region. Alternatively, selection may be by intersection of a location indicated by the at least part of a cursor and a selectable region alone, by such an intersection accompanied by a switch operation, for example, a depression of a space bar on the keyboard, or by other suitable means.

In accord with the Location Indication aspect of the invention, the operator sees the entire menu in the compact indicating regions and may discover the location of the selectable region associated with each menu option without having to visually scan all the visible subregions. In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of indicating regions may be moved to a different location on the display to avoid obstructing the area of the display showing most recently added graphic symbols or the area of the display where graphic symbols will soon be added. In accord with the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention, an operator may select from among many sequences of one or more ideographs without lifting either hand from the keyboard, thus speeding entry of single ideographs or sequences of ideographs in word processing systems for the Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages. Since, in the preferred embodiment, the selectable regions are located adjacent the edge of the display, a large rectangular region remains available on the display for the output of an application program. Further, if the selectable regions are located entirely outside the display, the indicating regions obstruct only a relatively small portion of the circumscribed region (3680), permitting the display of a sequences of ideographs for selection simultaneous with the display of previously selected ideographs, neither obstructing the operator's view of the other. If the general purpose computer system is coupled to a speech synthesizer and the ideographs are symbols of a symbol set, for example, the Blissymbolics Symbol Set, an illiterate operator, for example, a school child having impaired speech, may select symbols associated with words and those words may be spoken via the speech synthesizer.

FIG. 65 illustrates a display and structures in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention. In this Figure, 18 selectable regions (3704/3706), (3708/3710), (3712/3714), (3716/3718), (3720/3722), (3724/3726), (3728/3730), (3732/3734), (3736/3738), (3740/3742), (3744/3746), (3748/3750), (3752/3754), (3756/3758), (3760/3762), (3764/3766), (3768/3770), (3772/3774) and (3776/3778) circumscribe region (3780) on the display (2112). The visible subregions of four of the 18 selectable regions abut each of the top, left and right edges of the display (2112). The visible subregions of six of the 18 selectable regions abut the bottom edge of the display (2112). The 18 indicating regions are located within the top half of region (3780). 12 of the 18indicating regions are arranged in two columns of six indicating regions each. The column on the left is close to the visible subregions abutting the left edge of the display. The column on the right is close to the visible subregions abutting the right edge of the display. Two of the 18 indicating regions are located between the top indicating regions in each of the left and right columns. The remaining four of the 18 indicating regions are located between the bottom indicating regions in each of the left and right columns. Each of the four indicating regions in the top row of indicating regions indicates the location of a respectively associated selectable region along the top edge of the display. Each of the six indicating regions in the bottom row of indicating regions indicates the location of a respectively associated selectable region along the bottom edge of the display. Each of the middle four indicating regions in each of the left and right columns of indicating regions indicates the location of a respectively associated selectable region along the left and right edge of the display. The 16 menu options shown in FIG. 65 are Chinese ideographs each of which includes the radical kou, a radical having the shape of a rectangle. Each ideograph is displayed on the visible subregion of the associated selectable region and on the indicating region associated with the selectable region. The remaining two of the 18 selectable regions, (3724/3726) and (3744/3746), are associated with menu options for undo and for displaying more menu options, respectively.

The indicating regions (3782) in FIG. 65 are disproportionately large relative to the rest of FIG. 65. They are approximately 1.5 times their proportionate size. They are represented as shown in FIG. 65 in compliance with Patent Cooperation Treaty Rules requiring a minimum size for letters in figures.

FIG. 66 illustrates a display and structures in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention. FIG. 66 depicts a display (2112) of a computer system (2116) having thereon ten square indicating regions. (3801), (3803), (3805), (3807), (3809), (3811), (3813), (3815), (3817), and (3819), arranged in two columns of five indicating regions. Each indicating region abuts an indicating region in the other column, the indicating region located above it, if any, and the indicating region located below it, if any. Each indicating region indicates the location of a respectively associated selectable region (not shown) outside the display. Assume that the operator is entering Chinese and uses a keyboard coupled to the computer system (2116) to enter the distinct sound "fu". On each of the indicating regions is then displayed an ideograph having with the distinct sound "fu". The operator, using a pointer coupled to the computer system (2116), points to the selectable region associated with the indicating region on which is displayed the desired ideograph. The selectable region is selected in response to a selection event, and, in this example, the associated menu option is input to a word processing program and appears on the display (2112).

FIG. 67 illustrates a display and structures in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention. FIG. 67 depicts a display (2112) of a computer system (2116) having thereon eight selectable regions (6701), (6703), (6705), (6707), (6709), (6711), (6713), and (6715), each located on the display (2112) adjacent the edge of the display (2112) and associated respectively with a menu option. Together the eight selectable region circumscribe region (6750) on the display. In FIG. 67 each of eight menu options is displayed on its associated selectable region. Six of the eight menu options, associated with selectable regions (6703), (6705), (6707), (6701), (6715), and (6713) each represent a sequence of graphic symbols in the Japanese language. These sequences, in Romanized Japanese are respectively "hoka", "hoka ni", "hoka no", "hoka kara", "nanika hoka nomono", and "hoka demo nai ga". Each sequence includes the kanji "hoka" shown alone on selectable region (6703). The sequences are ordered by length, the shorter sequences on selectable regions on the left side of the display (2112) ordered by length from the top to the bottom of the display (2112), the longer sequences along the right side of the display (2112) ordered by length from the top to the bottom of the display (2112). The remaining two of the eight selectable regions, (6709) and (6711), are associated with menu options for displaying the previous and the next display of menu options, respectively. The menu option associated with a selectable region may be selected by a selection event.

The preferred embodiment of the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention will now be described in detail from an implementation perspective. Preferably, the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention is implemented by modifications to the access program (1206) described in the detailed description of the Perimeter Menu aspect of the invention, modified as described in the descriptions of the Facilitated Dwell subaspect and the Location Indication aspects of the invention. The modifications required for the Ideographic Language aspect of the invention are: (1) install on the general purpose computer system a font for the ideographic language of the embodiment; (2) at initialization time: (a) set the text of all labels for display on the selectable regions to null; (b) do not enable the cursor polling timer; and (c) hide the Windows® (1204) system cursor; (3) include in the main window processing procedure of the access program (1206) code to process WM₋₋ CHAR messages and, when a sequence of one or more WM₋₋ CHAR messages indicates a common characteristic: (a) lookup sequences or representations of sequences of one or more ideographs (hereinafter "sequences") having the common characteristic; (b) copy ten of the sequences to the labels; (c) set the Windows® (1204) system cursor to the cross hair cursor, set the cursor location to a predetermined location near an indicating region and show the Windows® (1204) system cursor; (d) set fPaint to TRUE for every state machine; (e) send EV₋₋ RESET to every state machine; (f) display each sequence at the appropriate location in the indicating region; and (g) enable the cursor polling timer; and (4) add state processing to ST₋₋ SELECTED to: (a) set the text of all labels for display to null; (b) hide the Windows® (1204) system cursor; (c) erase all sequences from the indicating region; (d) disable the cursor polling timer; (e) set fPaint to TRUE for every state machine; (f) send EV₋₋ RESET to every state machine; and (g) insert the selected sequence into the work space.

In the above descriptions, there is shown and described only the preferred and certain alternate embodiments of each aspect of the invention, but, as aforementioned, it is to be understood that each aspect of the invention is capable of use in various other combinations and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concepts as expressed herein.

                                      APPENDIX I                                   __________________________________________________________________________     Procedure: PocketFsm                                                           __________________________________________________________________________     /*                                                                               ***************************************************************                                                 */                                          /*                                 */                                          /*  Procedure:                                                                           PocketFsm                */                                          /*                                 */                                          /*  Description:                                                                         State Machine for processing events to                                                                  */                                          /*        selectable regions.      */                                          /*                                 */                                          /*  Input Parameters:              */                                          /*        pPocket                                                                            pointer to selectable region data                                                                   */                                          /*            set                  */                                          /*        Event                                                                              event to process     */                                          /*                                 */                                          /*                                                                               ***************************************************************                                                 */                                          PocketFsm (pPocket, Event)                                                     BOOL      fInternalEvent                                                                           /* declaration of local                                                        boolean variable */                                        set fInternalEvent to TRUE                                                     while (fInternalEvent is TRUE)                                                 {                                                                              set fInternalEvent to FALSE                                                    set pPocket->PreviousState to pPocket->State                                   set pPocket->State to aPocketFsm[pPocket->State][Event]                        switch (pPocket->State)                                                        {                                                                                      case ST.sub.-- ILLEGAL.sub.-- STATE:                                           case ST.sub.-- ERROR:                                                            turn off all timers                                                            log the error                                                                  display an error message to the operator                                       break                                                                        case ST.sub.-- INITIAL:                                                          break                                                                        case ST.sub.-- RESET:                                                            set time of selection to the current time                                      if pPocket->Color is not equal to                                              pPocket->InitialColor                                                            set pPocket->Color to pPocket->InitialColor                                    set pPocket->fPaint to TRUE                                                  set pPocket->fInvert to FALSE                                                  break                                                                        case ST.sub.-- LOW.sub.-- TIDE:                                                  break                                                                        case ST.sub.-- CREST.sub.-- TIDE:                                                break                                                                        case ST.sub.-- BEGIN.sub.-- LOCK:                                                emit an audible beep                                                           set the system cursor location to the visible                                  subregion's lockspot                                                           set the system cursor to null                                                  display the lock icon on the visible subregion's                               lockspot                                                                                 /* initialize counter                                                          for locking */                                                       set iLockCursor to cLockCursor                                                 break                                                                        case ST.sub.-- LOCK:                                                             set the system cursor location to the visible                                  subregion's lockspot                                                                     /* on lock counter                                                             expiration, */                                                                 /* transfer to the next                                                        state */                                                             decrement iLockCursor by 1                                                     if iLockCursor equals 0                                                          set Event to EV.sub.-- NULL                                                    set fInternalEvent to TRUE                                                   break                                                                        case ST.sub.-- END.sub.-- LOCK:                                                  erase the lock icon with white                                                 set the system cursor to the arrow cursor                                      display the system cursor on the visible                                       subregion' lockspot                                                            emit an audible beep                                                                     /* paint selectable region                                                     so that */                                                                     /* the white erasure of the                                                    lock */                                                                        /* cursor icon is                                                              overwritten */                                                       set pPocket->fPaint to TRUE                                                    break                                                                        case ST.sub.-- SELECTED:                                                         emit an audible beep                                                           take the action appropriate upon selection of this                             selectable region, for example, sending data to an                             application program, sending a control sequence to                             a device coupled to the computer, or displaying                                the selection                                                                  set pPocket->fInvert to TRUE                                                   if appropriate, change the menu options associated                             with various selectable regions and set fPaint to                              TRUE for the state machines associated with those                              selectable regions                                                             set Event to EV.sub.-- NULL                                                    set fInternalEvent to TRUE                                                     break                                                                        case ST.sub.-- SELECT.sub.-- AND.sub.-- OUT:                                     send EV.sub.-- RESET then EV.sub.-- MOVEMENT to all state                      machines, resetting them and indicating that the                               operator is moving the cursor                                                  break                                                                        case ST.sub.-- DECAY:                                                                      /* set state to previous                                                       state */                                                                       /* in preparation for the                                                      next */                                                                        /* state transition */                                               set pPocket->State to pPocket->PreviousState                                   decrement pPocket->Color by pPocket->Decrement,                                but not below pPocket->InitialColor                                            if pPocket->Color was changed                                                    set pPocket->fPaint to TRUE                                                    set fInternalEvent to TRUE                                                   if pPocket->Color was changed from a value greater                             than or equal to pPocket->CrestTide to a value                                 below pPocket ->CrestTide                                                        set Event to EV.sub.-- STEP.sub.-- DOWN                                      else                                                                             set Event to EV.sub.-- NULL                                                  break                                                                        case ST.sub.-- DWELL:                                                                      /* set state to previous                                                       state */                                                                       /* in preparation for the                                                      next */                                                                        /* state transition */                                               set pPocket->State to pPocket->PreviousState                                   increment pPocket->Color by pPocket->Increment,                                but not above pPocket->Ceiling                                                 if pPocket->Color was changed                                                    set pPocket->fPaint to TRUE                                                    set fInternalEvent to TRUE                                                   if pPocket->Color was changed from a value below                               pPocket->CrestTide to a value greater than or                                  equal to pPocket->CrestTide                                                      set Event to EV.sub.-- STEP.sub.-- UP                                        else                                                                             set Event to EV.sub.-- NULL                                                  break                                                                        case ST.sub.-- IDLE:                                                             set the system cursor location to the center of                                the display                                                                    set fInternalEvent to TRUE                                                     set Event to EV.sub.-- NULL                                                    break                                                                        case ST.sub.-- EBB.sub.-- TIDE:                                                  break                                                                        case ST.sub.-- ENTRY:                                                            set fInternalEvent to TRUE                                                     set Event to EV.sub.-- NULL                                                    break                                                                        case ST.sub.-- DISCARD:                                                                    /* set state to previous                                                       state */                                                                       /* for the next transition*/                                         set pPocket->State to pPocket->PreviousState                                   break                                                                        case ST.sub.-- EXIT:                                                             set Event to EV.sub.-- NULL                                                    set fInternalEvent to TRUE                                                     if pPocket->fInterior equals TRUE                                                change the boundaries of the Windows ® region                              having the handle pPocket->hRegion to those                                    defined by the second array of points                                          associated with this state machine                                           set pPocket->fPaint to TRUE                                                    send EV.sub.-- RESET to the state machine having the                           index pPocket->iAdjacentPocket                                                 break                                                                        default:                                                                         display error message                                                          break                                                                }                                                                              /* end switch */                                                               }                                                                              /* end while */                                                                if pPocket->fPaint is equal to TRUE                                            invalidate the entire client area                                              }                                                                              /* end PocketFsm */                                                            __________________________________________________________________________

    __________________________________________________________________________     /*                                                                               ***************************************************************                                                 */                                          /*                                 */                                          /*  Procedure:                                                                           CreateEvent              */                                          /*                                 */                                          /*  Description:                                                                         Examines movement of cursor and determines                                                              */                                          /*        what events have occurred.                                           /%                                 */                                          /*  Input Parameters:              */                                          /*        pEvent                                                                             pointer to an event data structure                                                                  */                                          /*            for output           */                                          /*  Output:                                                                              A completed event data structure                                                                        */                                          /*        indicated by pEvent including:                                       /*        (1)                                                                              an indication of whether the cursor hotspot                                                           */                                          /*          intersects a selectable region                                                                        */                                          /*        (2)                                                                              the index of the intersected selectable                            /*          region, if any                                                     /*        (3)                                                                              the event for the intersected selectable                           /*          region, if any         */                                          /*        (4)                                                                              the event for all non-intersected                                                                     */                                          /*          selectable regions     */                                          /*                                 */                                          /*        Updated variables indicate:                                                                             */                                          /*        (1)                                                                              the previous location of the cursor hotspot                                                           */                                          /*        (2)                                                                              the approximate time of the sampling of the                                                           */                                          /*          previous location of the cursor hotspot                                                               */                                          /*                                 */                                          /*                                                                               ***************************************************************                                                 */                                          CreateEvent (pEvent)                                                           get current cursor hotspot location                                            if there has been cursor hotspot movement since the last                       cursor location                                                                sampling                                                                       set time of previous cursor movement to time latest                            received                                                                       WM.sub.-- TIMER message was generated                                          if cursor hotspot has crossed out of a selectable region                       set event to EV.sub.-- CROSS.sub.-- OUT for the intersected                    selectable region and to EV.sub.-- MOVEMENT for all other                      selectable regions                                                             else                                                                           if cursor hotspot intersects a selectable region                                       if intersected selectable region's Color equals                                Ceiling                                                                          set event to EV.sub.-- CEILING for the intersected                             selectable region and to EV.sub.-- DECAY for all                               other selectable regions                                                     else                                                                             set event to EV.sub.-- DWELL for the intersected                               selectable region and to EV.sub.-- DECAY for all                               other selectable regions                                             else                                                                                   set event to EV.sub.-- MOVEMENT for all selectable                             regions                                                                else                                                                           if cursor hotspot intersects a selectable region                               if idle time exceeded                                                                  set event to EV.sub.-- IDLE.sub.-- TIMEOUT for all selectable                  regions                                                                else                                                                                   if intersected selectable region's Color equals                                Ceiling                                                                          set event to EV.sub.-- CEILING for the intersected                             selectable region and to EV.sub.-- DECAY for all                               other selectable regions                                                     else                                                                             set event to EV.sub.-- DWELL for the intersected                               selectable region and to EV.sub.-- DECAY for all                               other selectable regions                                             else                                                                           set event to EV.sub.-- DECAY for all selectable regions                        set the previous cursor hotspot location to the current                        hotspot location                                                               }                                                                              /* end CreateEvent */                                                          __________________________________________________________________________ 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for indicating the remaining dwell time required to select a selectable region, said apparatus comprising:(a) a display with respect to which the selectable region is capable of being at least partially delimited, the selectable region associated with a sequence of one or more graphic symbols including an ideograph, the sequence displayed on the display; (b) a movement related signal receiver for receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement of a user, the user movement indicating successive locations with respect to the display; (c) an indicating device for:(1) modifying in a first manner the appearance of a first indicating region on the display responsive to a difference between:(i) a predetermined period; and (ii) the duration of a first period of intersection of two or more of the successive locations and the selectable region,the duration of the first period of intersection not equalling or exceeding the predetermined period; and (2) modifying in a second manner the appearance of a second indicating region on the display responsive to the duration of a second period of intersection of two or more of the successive locations and the selectable region equalling or exceeding the predetermined period, the second period of intersection including all of the first period of intersection; and (d) a selector for selecting the sequence responsive to the duration of the second period of intersection equalling or exceeding the predetermined period.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the modification in the first manner includes a slight modification and the modification in the second manner includes a marked modification.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein either the modification in the first manner or the modification in the second manner includes a modification in any one of:(1) a visible signal, including any one of:(a) a size; (b) a shape; (c) a hue; (d) a brightness; (e) a contrast; (f) a tone; (g) a dithering; (f) a fill; (h) a font; (i) a blinking; (j) a hatching; and (k) a pattern; (2) an audible signal; and (3) a tactile signal.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first indicating region intersects the second indicating region.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second indicating regions intersects the selectable region.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second indicating regions is coterminous with the selectable region.
 7. An apparatus for indicating dwell time comprising:(a) a surface with respect to which each of a plurality of regions is capable of being at least partially delimited; (b) a movement related signal receiver for receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement of a user, the user movement indicating:(i) a first starting location intersecting a particular one of the regions; (ii) at a time at or after the time the first starting location occurs, a second starting location intersecting the particular region; (iii) at a time after the time the second starting location occurs, a second intermediate location intersecting the particular region; (iv) at a time after the time the second intermediate location occurs, a second ending location intersecting the particular region; and (v) at a time after the time the second ending location occurs, a first ending location intersecting the particular region;wherein a first period of intersection starts in response to the first starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the first ending location intersecting the particular region; wherein a second period of intersection starts in response to the second starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the second ending location intersecting the particular region; and wherein the duration of the second period of intersection increases between the time the second intermediate location occurs and the time the second ending location occurs; (c) a selector for selecting the particular region responsive to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity, the first quantity being a function of the duration of the first period of intersection; and (d) a plurality of indicators, each associated respectively with one of the regions, the particular indicator associated with the particular region, the particular indicator for providing a continuous or apparently continuous indication to the user prior to the selector selecting the particular region, the indication responsive to the increasing duration of the second period of intersection.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each indicator either intersects or is adjacent its associated region.
 9. For use with a user interface system wherein a body member of a user indicates successive locations with respect to a surface, a menu option selector comprising:(a) the surface with respect to which a selectable region is capable of being at least partially delimited, the selectable region associated with a menu option; (b) a detector for detecting the successive locations indicated by the body member; and (c) an indicator for indicating the duration of each of:(1) a first period of time during which two or more of the successive locations intersect the selectable region; (2) a second period of time, occurring after the first period, during which two or more of the successive locations do not intersect the selectable region; and (3) a third period of time, occurring after the second period, during which two or more of the successive locations intersect the selectable region; and (d) a selection device, responsive to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity, the first quantity being a function of the duration of each of the first, second, and third periods, for selecting the menu option.
 10. A device controller comprising:(a) a display device for at least partially displaying a plurality of selectable regions on a display area, each selectable region associated respectively with a device control function; (b) a movement related signal receiver for receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement of a user, the user movement capable of indicating a potential user selection, the user movement capable of indicating three or more successive locations with respect to the display area; (c) an indicator for providing to a user of the device controller a steadily increasing indication of the increasing duration of a period of intersection of three or more of the successive locations indicated by the user movement and a particular one of the selectable regions; and (d) an initiation device, responsive to the duration of the period of intersection equalling or exceeding a predetermined period, for initiating the control function associated with the particular selectable region.
 11. The device controller of claim 10 further comprising a controlled device, responsive to the initiation device, for performing the device control function.
 12. The device controller of claim 11 wherein the controlled device includes any one of:(1) a computer peripheral; (2) a device capable of playing previously recorded sound; (3) a device capable of playing previously recorded video; (4) a household appliance; (5) a lamp; (6) a microprocessor; (7) a motorized transport device including either one of a scooter and a wheelchair; (8) a radio; (9) a robot; (10) a security system; (11) a television; (12) a thermostat; (13) a voice output device; (14) a workstation (15) an alarm (16) an office appliance; (17) an order entry device; and (18) a data entry device.
 13. For use with a system allowing a user to select a particular menu option from a plurality of menu options, the particular menu option associated with a particular region, the system including:(1) a display area; and (2) a computer coupled to the display area for receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement of the user, the user movement capable of indicating a potential user selection, the user movement capable of indicating:(i) a first starting location intersecting the particular region; (ii) at a time at or after the time the first starting location occurs, a second starting location intersecting the particular region; (iii) at a time after the time the second starting location occurs, a second intermediate location intersecting the particular region at a time after the time the second intermediate location occurs, a second ending location intersecting the particular region; and (iv) at a time after the time the second ending location occurs, a first ending location intersecting the particular region;wherein a first period of intersection starts in response to the first starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the first ending location intersecting the particular region; wherein a second period of intersection starts in response to the second starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the second ending location intersecting the particular region; and wherein the duration of the second period of intersection increases between the time the second intermediate location occurs and the time the second ending location occursan apparatus for indicating dwell time comprising: (a) a carrier readable by the computer; and (b) a first program, stored on or transmitted via the carrier and executable by the computer, for:(1) at least partially delimiting the particular region with respect to the display area; (2) selecting the particular menu option responsive to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity, the first quantity being a function of the duration of the first period of intersection; and (3) providing a continuous or apparently continuous indication to the user prior to the first program selecting the particular menu option, the indication responsive to a second quantity, the second quantity being a function of the increasing duration of the second period of intersection.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a general purpose computer system either coupled to or including the processor, the general purpose computer system capable of executing an application program, wherein the particular region is capable of being associated with an input to the application program; and wherein the first program is further operative to input the input to the application program responsive to the first quantity equalling or exceeding the first predetermined quantity.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first program and the application program include at least some common code.
 16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the carrier is capable of being coupled to and uncoupled from the processor.
 17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the carrier includes any one of:(a) a random access memory; (b) a magnetic store; (c) an optical store; and (d) a communications network.
 18. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:(a) a general purpose computer system which includes the processor; and (b) a pointer, coupled to the general purpose computer system, for generating the movement related signal.
 19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the continuous or apparently continuous indication includes any one of:(1) a visible signal, including any one of:(a) a size; (b) a shape; (c) a hue; (d) a brightness; (e) a contrast; (f) a tone; (g) a dithering; (f) a fill; (h) a font; (i) a blinking; (j) a hatching; and (k) a pattern; (2) an audible signal; and (3) a tactile signal.
 20. A data entry system comprising:(a) a display having thereon a plurality of selectable data entry items and a region for indicating the number of units of the data entry item selected; (b) a plurality of detectors, each associated respectively with one of the selectable data entry items; (c) a pointer for producing and emitting signals directed at a particular one of the data entry items for a steadily increasing period of time; and (d) a control device for controlling the operation of said data entry system, the control device including:(1) a first indicator for producing signals in response to the signals falling on the detectors, the first indicator giving a continuous or apparently continuous first indication to a user of the data entry system of the steadily increasing period of time that the pointer has been directed at the particular data entry item; (2) a second indicator for giving a second indication to the user that the pointer has been directed at the particular data entry item for a period equalling or exceeding a predetermined period of time and that the particular data entry item is selected for entry into the data entry system; and (3) a third indicator for indicating in the region the number of units of the particular data entry item selected.
 21. An order entry system comprising:(a) a display having thereon a plurality of selectable order entry items, a first region for indicating the number of units of the order entry item selected and a second region for indicating the total monetary value of the units selected; (b) a plurality of detectors, each associated respectively with one of the selectable order entry items; (c) a pointer for producing and emitting signals directed at a particular one of the order entry items for a steadily increasing period of time; and (d) a control device for:(1) producing signals in response to the signals falling on the detectors, the control device giving a continuous or apparently continuous first indication to a user of the order entry system of the steadily increasing duration of the period that the pointer has been directed at the particular order entry item; (2) producing signals in response to the signals falling on the detectors, the control device giving a second indication to the user that the pointer has been directed at the particular order entry item for at least a predetermined period of time and that the particular order entry item is selected for entry into the order entry system; (3) indicating in the first region the number of units of the order entry item selected; (4) totaling the monetary value of the units selected; and (5) indicating in the second region the total monetary value of the units selected.
 22. The order entry system of claim 21 wherein the control device is further operative to give a third indication to the user of the duration of a period that the pointer has not been directed at the particular order entry item to which it was previously directed.
 23. The order entry system of claim 21 wherein the display further includes a pictorial representation of the particular order entry item and wherein the particular one of the detectors associated with the particular order entry item is located within the pictorial representation.
 24. The order entry system of claim 23 wherein the pictorial representation is in the form of a food item at a fast-food restaurant.
 25. The order entry system of claim 21 wherein the pointer includes:(a) an infrared light source; and (b) a lens for producing a narrow beam of light in cooperation with the infrared light source.
 26. The order entry system of claim 21 further comprising a stationary housing for housing the pointer, said housing positioned relative to the display to enable a person using the order entry system and seated in a vehicle to pick up the pointer, use it, and return it to the stationary housing while seated in the vehicle.
 27. A method of indicating to a user the remaining dwell time required to select a selectable region, said method comprising the steps of:displaying the selectable region on a surface; receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement by the user, the user movement indicating a first location and at least two successive locations, each of the locations intersecting the selectable region, each of the at least two successive locations occurring after the occurrence of the previous location, and wherein the duration of a period of intersection of the locations and the selectable region increases between the time the earliest of the at least two successive locations occurs and the time the latest of the at least two successive locations occurs; providing a continuous or apparently continuous indication to the user responsive to a first quantity, the first quantity being a function of a first difference between:(a) a second predetermined quantity; and (b) the increasing duration of the period of intersection; and selecting the selectable region responsive to the duration of the period of intersection equalling or exceeding the second predetermined quantity.
 28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the steps of:receiving a movement related signal indicating, at a time after the time the latest of the at least two successive locations occurs, a second location not intersecting the selectable region; and indicating to the user the non-intersection of the second location and the selectable region.
 29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the steps of:receiving a movement related signal indicating, at a time after the time the second location occurs, a third location not intersecting the selectable region; and indicating to the user the difference between the time the third location occurs and the time the second location occurs.
 30. A voice output system comprising:(a) a display with respect to which each of a plurality of selectable regions is capable of being at least partially delimited, each of the selectable regions capable of being associated respectively with a sequence of one or more graphic symbols, wherein either a first one of the sequences is capable of representing a phrase including one or more words, or two or more of the sequences, when concatenated, are capable of representing the phrase; (b) a movement related signal receiver for receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement by a user of the voice output system, the user movement capable of indicating a potential user selection, the user movement capable of indicating first successive locations intersecting any of the selectable regions for a steadily increasing period of time; (c) an indicator for providing to the user a continuous or apparently continuous indication of either:(1) a steadily increasing first period of time, the indication responsive to the duration of a first period of intersection of the first successive locations and the selectable region associated with the first sequence, or (2) the durations of each of two or more second periods of intersection of the first successive locations and each of the selectable regions associated with the two or more sequences; and (d) a voice output device for speaking the phrase in response to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity, the first quantity being a function of either the duration of the first period of intersection, or of the duration of each of the two or more second periods of intersection.
 31. The voice output system of claim 30 wherein the graphic symbols represent any one of:(a) a letter of an alphabet; (b) a kana; (c) an ideograph; (d) a phoneme; (e) a sign of a sign language; (f) a topic of conversation; (g) a sentence; and(6) a symbol of a symbol set including but not limited to any one of the Picture Communication Symbols symbol set, the Rebus symbol set, the Picsyms symbol set, the Pictogram Ideogram Communication Symbols symbol set, the Yerkish symbol set, the Minspeak symbol set; and the Blissymbolics symbol set.
 32. The voice output system of claim 30 wherein the user movement is further capable of indicating second successive locations not intersecting a selectable region previously intersected by the first successive locations; and wherein the indicator is further operative to indicate that the previously intersected selectable region is not intersected by the second successive locations.
 33. The voice output system of claim 30 wherein the user movement is further capable of indicating for a steadily increasing second period of time second successive locations not intersecting a selectable region previously intersected by the first successive locations; and wherein the indicator is further operative to provide to the user a continuous or apparently continuous indication of the steadily increasing second period of time.
 34. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the continuous or apparently continuous indication includes any one of:(1) a visible signal, including any one of:(a) a size; (b) a shape; (c) a hue; (d) a brightness; (e) a contrast; (f) a tone; (g) a dithering; (f) a fill; (h) a font; (i) a blinking; (j) a hatching; and (k) a pattern; (2) an audible signal; and (3) a tactile signal.
 35. For use with a system allowing a user to select a particular menu option from a plurality of menu options, the particular menu option associated with a particular region, the system including a display area, a method of indicating dwell time, said method comprising:(a) at least partially delimiting the particular region with respect to the display area; (b) receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement of the user, the user movement capable of indicating a potential user selection, the user movement capable of indicating successive locations with respect to the display area, the successive locations including:(1) a first starting location intersecting the particular region; (2) at a time at or after the time the first starting location occurs, a second starting location intersecting the particular region; (3) at a time after the time the second starting location occurs, a second intermediate location intersecting the particular region; (4) at a time after the time the second intermediate location occurs, a second ending location intersecting the particular region; and (5) at a time after the time the second ending location occurs, a first ending location intersecting the particular region;wherein a first period of intersection starts in response to the first starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the first ending location intersecting the particular region; wherein a second period of intersection starts in response to the second starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the second ending location intersecting the particular region; and wherein the duration of the second period of intersection increases between the time the second intermediate location occurs and the time the second ending location occurs; (c) selecting the particular menu option responsive to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity, the first quantity being a function of the duration of the first period of intersection; and (d) providing a continuous or apparently continuous indication to the user prior to selecting the particular menu option, the indication responsive to a second quantity, the second quantity being a function of the increasing duration of the second period of intersection.
 36. For use with a system allowing a user to select a particular menu option from a plurality of menu options, the particular menu option associated with a particular region, the system including:(1) a display area; and (2) a movement related signal receiver for receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement of the user, the user movement capable of indicating a potential user selection, the user movement capable of indicating successive locations with respect to the display area, the successive locations including:(i) a first starting location intersecting the particular region; (ii) at a time at or after the time the first starting location occurs, a second starting location intersecting the particular region; (iii) at a time after the time the second starting location occurs, a second intermediate location intersecting the particular region; (iv) at a time after the time the second intermediate location occurs, a second ending location intersecting the particular region; and (v) at a time after the time the second ending location occurs, a first ending location intersecting the particular region; wherein a first period of intersection starts in response to the first starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the first ending location intersecting the particular region; wherein a second period of intersection starts in response to the second starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the second ending location intersecting the particular region; and wherein the duration of the second period of intersection increases between the time the second intermediate location occurs and the time the second ending location occurs;an apparatus for indicating dwell time comprising: (a) a delimit device for at least partially delimiting the particular region with respect to the display area; (b) a selection device for selecting the particular menu option responsive to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity, the first quantity being a function of the duration of the first period of intersection; and (c) an indicator for providing a continuous or apparently continuous indication to the user prior to the selection device selecting the particular menu option, the indication responsive to a second quantity, the second quantity being a function of the increasing duration of the second period of intersection.
 37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the indicator includes an indicating region for the continuous or apparently continuous indication; and wherein the indicating region:(1) intersects the particular region; (2) does not intersect the particular region; (3) is coterminous with the particular region; (4) is at least partially outside the display area; or (5) is at least partially on the display area.
 38. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the delimit device is further operative to at least partially delimit a plurality of regions with respect to the display area, the particular region being one of the plurality of regions; wherein the successive locations further include:(i) at a time at or after the time the first starting location occurs, a third starting location intersecting a specific one of the regions other than the particular region; (ii) at a time after the time the third starting location occurs, a third intermediate location intersecting the specific region; and (iii) at a time after the time the third intermediate location occurs, a third ending location intersecting the specific region; andwherein a third period of intersection starts in response to the third starting location intersecting the specific region and ends in response to the third ending location intersecting the specific region; wherein the duration of the third period of intersection increases between the time the third intermediate location occurs and the time the third ending location occurs; and wherein the indicator is further operative to indicate to the user prior to the selection device selecting the particular menu option the increasing duration of the third period of intersection.
 39. The apparatus of claim 38 further comprising a cursor movement device for: (1) displaying a cursor on the display area and moving the cursor on the display area responsive to the user movement; and (2) inhibiting movement of the cursor for a fourth period of time in response to an action of the user.
 40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the action of the user includes either one of:(1) a third quantity equalling or exceeding a second predetermined quantity, the third quantity being a function of the duration of the third period of intersection; and (2) a switch operation.
 41. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the display area has a periphery; and wherein each of the regions is adjacent the periphery.
 42. The apparatus of claim 38 further comprising cursor movement device for:(1) moving a cursor on the display area along a cursor path responsive to the user movement; and (2) indicating which one of the regions is most nearly along the cursor path.
 43. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the successive locations further include:(vi) at a time later than the time the second ending location occurs and earlier than the time the first ending location occurs, a third starting location not intersecting the particular region; andwherein the indicator is further operative to indicate the non-intersection of the third starting location and the particular region.
 44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the successive locations further include:(vii) at a time later than the time the third starting location occurs and earlier than the time the first ending location occurs, a third ending location not intersecting the particular region;wherein a third period of non-intersection starts in response to the third starting location not intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the third ending location not intersecting the particular region; and wherein the second quantity is further a function of the duration of the third period of non-intersection.
 45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the successive locations further include:(viii) at a time later than the time the third ending location occurs and earlier than the time the first ending location occurs, a fourth starting location intersecting the particular region; and (ix) at a time later than the time the fourth starting location occurs and earlier than the time the first ending location occurs, a fourth ending location intersecting the particular region; andwherein a fourth period of intersection starts in response to the fourth starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the fourth ending location intersecting the particular region; and wherein the second quantity is further a function of the duration of the fourth period of intersection.
 46. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the indicator is further operative to produce an output signal which varies in at least one way as the duration of the second period of intersection increases and varies in at least the opposite way as the duration of the third period of non-intersection increases.
 47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the variation includes a variation in brightness.
 48. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the indicator is further operative to indicate a third quantity to the user prior to the selection device selecting the particular menu option, the third quantity being a function of a first difference between the first predetermined quantity and the first quantity.
 49. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the indicator is further operative to indicate in a first manner that the first quantity equals or exceeds the first predetermined quantity.
 50. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the indicator includes a first indicator on the display area and the indication in the first manner includes a modification in the appearance of the first indicator.
 51. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein the indicator is further operative to modify in a second manner the appearance of a second indicator on the display area responsive to the first quantity not equalling or exceeding the first predetermined quantity.
 52. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the modification in the first manner includes a marked modification and the modification in the second manner includes a slight modification.
 53. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the system further includes a display area; further comprising a cursor movement device for moving a cursor on the display area along a cursor path responsive to the user movement; and wherein the first quantity is further a function of the cursor path.
 54. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the cursor path is a function of any one of:(1) a velocity indicated by two or more of the successive locations; (2) an acceleration indicated by three or more of the successive locations; (3) a distance between the particular region and a third location, the third location being one of the successive locations indicated by the user movement; and (4) a difference between the time a third location occurs and the time a fourth location occurs, each of the third and the fourth locations being one of the successive locations indicated by the user movement.
 55. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the indicator is further operative to indicate a change in the first quantity.
 56. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the delimit device is further operative to at least partially delimit a plurality of regions with respect to the fixed location, the particular region being one of the plurality of regions; wherein the selection device is further capable of selecting each of the regions; and wherein the selection device is further responsive to which one of the regions has previously been selected.
 57. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising a computer system operative to execute an application program; wherein the particular region is capable of being associated with an input to the application program; and further comprising an input device for inputting the input to the application program responsive to the first quantity equalling or exceeding the first predetermined quantity.
 58. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising a signal generator, capable of being coupled to a controlled device, for generating a device control signal corresponding to a device control function for controlling the controlled device; wherein the particular region is capable of being associated with the device control function; and wherein the signal generator, in response to the first quantity equalling or exceeding the first predetermined quantity, is operative to generate the device control signal.
 59. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein the controlled device includes any one of:(1) a computer peripheral; (2) a device capable of playing previously recorded sound; (3) a device capable of playing previously recorded video; (4) a household appliance; (5) a lamp; (6) a microprocessor; (7) a motorized transport device including either one of a scooter and a wheelchair; (8) a radio; (9) a robot; (10) a security system; (11) a television; (12) a thermostat; (13) a voice output device; (14) a workstation; (15) an alarm; (16) an office appliance; (17) an order entry device; and (18) a data entry device.
 60. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising a user fatigue detector for detecting user fatigue; and wherein the selection device is further responsive to detected user fatigue.
 61. The apparatus of claim 60 further comprising a fatigue indicator for indicating detected user fatigue.
 62. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the particular menu option is capable of including or representing any one of:(1) a letter of a sign alphabet; (2) a sign of a sign language; (3) a topic of conversation; (4) a sentence; (5) a sequence of one or more graphics including an ideograph; (6) a symbol of a symbol set including but not limited to any one of the Picture Communication Symbols symbol set, the Rebus symbol set, the Picsyms symbol set, the Pictogram Ideogram Communication Symbols symbol set, the Yerkish symbol set, the Minspeak symbol set; and the Blissymbolics symbol set; and (7) a letter of an alphabet.
 63. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the delimit device is further operative to at least partially delimit a plurality of regions with respect to the display area, the particular region being one of the plurality of regions; and further comprising a disabling device, responsive to a third quantity equalling or exceeding a second predetermined quantity, for preventing the selection device from selecting the particular menu option while maintaining a power supply to the apparatus, the third quantity being a function of the duration of a third period of intersection, the third period of intersection starting in response to a third starting location intersecting a specific one of the regions other than the particular region and ending in response to a third ending location intersecting the specific region, the third starting and third ending locations each being one of the successive locations indicated by the user movement.
 64. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the disabling device, responsive to a fourth quantity equalling or exceeding a third predetermined quantity, is further operative to enable the selection of the particular region, the third quantity being a function of the duration of a fourth period of intersection, the fourth period of intersection starting in response to a fourth starting location intersecting a certain one of the regions and ending in response to a fourth ending location intersecting the certain region, the fourth starting and fourth ending locations each being one of the successive locations indicated by the user movement.
 65. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the disabling device is further operative, responsive to the third quantity equalling or exceeding the second predetermined quantity, to disable all functions of the apparatus except the enabling function.
 66. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein each of the first starting location, the first ending location, the second starting location, the second intermediate location, and the second ending location, is relative either to a previous location indicated by the user movement or to a predetermined location with respect to the display area.
 67. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising a pointer, responsive to movement of a body member of the user, for indicating the first starting location, the first ending location, the second starting location, the second intermediate location, and the second ending location, the body member of the user including any one of:(1) the head of the user; (2) an eye of the user; (3) a shoulder of the user; (4) an arm of the user; (5) an elbow of the user; (6) a wrist of the user; (7) a hand of the user; (8) a finger of the user; (9) a thumb of the user; (10) a knee of the user; (11) a leg of the user; (12) a foot of the user; (13) a toe of the user; (14) an ankle of the user; and (15) the trunk of the user.
 68. The apparatus of claim 67 further comprising a tactile indicator for indicating tactilely to the user the position of the body member.
 69. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising a pointer, responsive to movement of a body member of the user, for producing and emitting a signal; and wherein the movement related signal receiver includes a detector for detecting the emitted signal.
 70. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising a pointer, responsive to movement of a body member of the user, for generating the movement related signal; and wherein the pointer includes any one of:(a) a mouse; (b) a trackball; (c) a joystick; (d) a stylus and graphics tablet; (e) a lightpen; (f) a thumb wheel; (g) a touch screen; (h) a head pointer; (i) an intraoral pointer; and (j) a device for determining a direction an eye of the user is looking.
 71. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising:(d) a pointer, responsive to movement of a body member of the user, for generating the movement related signal; and (e) a stationary housing for housing the pointer, said housing positioned relative to the display area to enable a person using the apparatus and seated in a vehicle to pick up the pointer, use it, and return it to the stationary housing while seated in the vehicle.
 72. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the continuous or apparently continuous indication includes any one of:(1) a visible signal, including any one of:(a) a size; (b) a shape; (c) a hue; (d) a brightness; (e) a contrast; (f) a tone; (g) a dithering; (f) a fill; (h) a font; (i) a blinking; (j) a hatching; and (k) a pattern; (2) an audible signal; and (3) a tactile signal.
 73. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein:(1) the delimit device includes a computer and program instructions on a carrier, the program instructions when executed by the computer operative to at least partially delimit the particular region with respect to the display area; (2) the selection device includes a computer and program instructions on a carrier, the program instructions when executed by the computer operative to select the particular menu option responsive to the first quantity equalling or exceeding the first predetermined quantity; or (3) the indicator includes a computer and program instructions on a carrier, the program instructions when executed by the computer operative to indicate the continuous or apparently continuous indication.
 74. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the movement related signal receiver for receiving a movement related signal is responsive to movement of a body member of the user other than either of the user's eyes.
 75. For use with a system allowing a user to select a particular menu option from a plurality of menu options, the particular menu option associated with a particular region, the system including a display area, an apparatus for indicating dwell time comprising:(a) delimit means for at least partially delimiting the particular region with respect to the display area; (b) movement related signal receiving means for receiving a movement related signal responsive to user movement of the user, the user movement capable of indicating a user potential selection, the user movement capable of indicating:(1) a first starting location intersecting the particular region; (2) at a time at or after the time the first starting location occurs, a second starting location intersecting the particular region; (3) at a time after the time the second starting location occurs, a second intermediate location intersecting the particular region; (4) at a time after the time the second intermediate location occurs, a second ending location intersecting the particular region; and (5) at a time after the time the second ending location occurs, a first ending location intersecting the particular region;wherein a first period of intersection starts in response to the first starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the first ending location intersecting the particular region; wherein a second period of intersection starts in response to the second starting location intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the second ending location intersecting the particular region; and wherein the duration of the second period of intersection increases between the time the second intermediate location occurs and the time the second ending location occurs; (c) selection means for selecting the particular menu option responsive to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity, the first quantity being a function of the duration of the first period of intersection; and (d) indicating means for providing a continuous or apparently continuous indication to the user prior to the selection device selecting the particular menu option, the indication responsive to a second quantity, the second quantity being a function of the increasing duration of the second period of intersection.
 76. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein the user movement is further capable of indicating:(6) at a time earlier than the time the first starting location occurs, a third starting location not intersecting the particular region; andwherein the indicating means is further operative to indicate the non-intersection of the third starting location and the particular region.
 77. The apparatus of claim 76 wherein the user movement is further capable of indicating:(7) at a time later than the time the third starting location occurs and earlier than the time the first starting location occurs, a third ending location not intersecting the particular region;and wherein the second quantity is further a function of a first difference between the time the third ending location occurs and the time the third starting location occurs.
 78. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the user movement is further capable of indicating:(8) at a time earlier than the time the third starting location occurs, a fourth starting location intersecting the particular region; and (9) at a time later than the time the fourth starting location occurs and earlier than the time the third starting location occurs, a fourth ending location intersecting the particular region; andwherein the indicating means is further operative to indicate a second difference between the time the fourth ending location occurs and the time the fourth starting location occurs.
 79. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the user movement is further capable of indicating:(8) at a time later than the time the third starting location occurs and earlier than the time the third ending location occurs, a third intermediate location not intersecting the particular region;wherein a third period of non-intersection starts in response to the third starting location not intersecting the particular region and ends in response to the third ending location not intersecting the particular region; and wherein the duration of the third period of non-intersection increases between the time the third intermediate location occurs and the time the third ending location occurs; and wherein the indicating means is further operative to produce an output signal which varies in at least one way as the duration of the third period of non-intersection increases and varies in at least the opposite way as the duration of the second period of intersection increases.
 80. The apparatus of claim 79 wherein the variation includes a variation in brightness.
 81. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein the continuous or apparently continuous indication includes any one of:(1) a visible signal, including any one of:(a) a size; (b) a shape; (c) a hue; (d) a brightness; (e) a contrast; (f) a tone; (g) a dithering; (f) a fill; (h) a font; (i) a blinking; (j) a hatching; and (k) a pattern; (2) an audible signal; and (3) a tactile signal.
 82. For use with a system allowing a user to select a particular menu option from at least three menu options, the system including:(1) a display area for simultaneously displaying the at least three menu options; and (2) outside the display area, a switch activatable by the user, the switch having at least three discrete positions, each of the positions associated respectively with one of the at least three menu options, the switch being positionable with respect to the location of each of the menu options for selection thereof, the position of the switch capable of corresponding to the location of the particular menu option at:(i) a first time; (ii) a second time occurring at or after the first time; (iii) a third time occurring after the second time; and (iv) a fourth time occurring after the third time; wherein a first period is capable of starting at or near the first time and ending at or near the fourth time, a second period is capable of starting at or near the second time, during the second period the position of the switch is capable of corresponding to the location of the particular menu option, and the duration of the second period is capable of increasing between the second time and the third time,an apparatus for indicating dwell time comprising: (a) a selector for selecting the particular menu option in response to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity, the first quantity being a function of the duration of the first period; and (b) an indicator for providing a continuous or apparently continuous indication to the user prior to the selector selecting the particular menu option, the indication responsive to a second quantity, the second quantity being a function of the increasing duration of the second period.
 83. The apparatus of claim 82 wherein either:(1) the selector includes a computer and program instructions on a carrier, the program instructions when executed by the computer operative to select the particular menu option responsive to the first quantity equalling or exceeding the first predetermined quantity; or (2) the indicator includes a computer and program instructions on a carrier, the program instructions when executed by the computer operative to provide the continuous or apparently continuous indication. 